15 July 2014

Ashar 31, 1421 Ramadan 16, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 105

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages plus 16-page T-Mag tabloid | Price: Tk12

8 | MALALA IN NIGERIA: BRING BACK OUR GIRLS TMAG | LIVING IN A MATERIAL WORLD

14 | LOEW HAILS ‘MIRACLE BOY’ GOETZE

7 | A BOON MISUNDERSTOOD

Launch tickets sold out!

Bangladesh condemns Israeli attack on Gaza

Travel syndicates and influential people grab it all even though the date of starting sale is yet to be fixed the schedule. The sooner the sales end, n Mohammad Jamil Khan the better it is for us.”

n Tribune Report

South-bound people going home for Eid holidays will be facing a serious scarcity of launch tickets as all the tickets have already been sold out long before they have been made available at ticket counters.

Sources say an illegal travel syndicate has taken hold of a portion of the tickets, which they will re-sell later at a premium, while the rest has been acquired by top government officials and relatives of lawmakers.

At Sadarghat launch terminal, supervisors of vessels like Suravi, Kirtankhola, Aanchal, Agradut Plus and Parabat, taking the Dhaka-Barisal-Bandaria route, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune all advance cabin tickets had been sold out a couple of days earlier.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carriers) Association (BIWA), said: “Although tickets were officially to be sold a week before Eid, it does not mean we cannot decide to do it before

“We have nothing to do about sale of advance tickets as almost all the tickets have boon booked by government high-ups and relatives of parliamentarians,” he added.

BIWA Vice-Chairman Shahab Uddin Milon said scalping cabin tickets would be difficult as there are only 2,500 cabins in launches, but the demand is for 10,000 seats before Eid. Most of the cabins are usually booked at least two months in advance, he said.

Saiful Haque Khan, joint director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, said: “Selling tickets actually depend on launch owners, but a meeting with them was scheduled for July 16 and they were not supposed to sell tickets before that.

“If we receive any complaint that the schedule has been violated, we will take action,” he added.

BIWTA Chairman Shamsuddoha

Brazil celebrates rival Argentina’s World Cup defeat n AFP, Rio de Janeiro

Mix of tears, cheers and TIB: Ctg customs officials bagging Tk47 lakh daily violence in Argentina

Brazilians, bitter about their team’s disastrous World Cup, celebrated Argentina’s defeat to Germany in the final Sunday by dancing and launching fireworks, relieved that their arch-rivals failed to triumph on their soil.

In Brasilia and Sao Paulo, fireworks exploded after Mario Goetze scored in extra-time to give the Germans a lastgasp victory at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

At a bar near the stadium, Brazilians chanted “Cry! Cry! Argentina!” in a nod to the song “Don’t cry for me Argentina.”

Tens of thousands of Argentine fans who had swarmed Rio’s Copacabana Beach to watch the game on a jumbo screen fell silent while Brazilians broke into song and danced. Some even waved German flags.

“Thank God, thank God that Germany won,” said Caio Ferraz, 45, a Brazilian looking up at the stars on the legendary beach.

“If Argentina had won, they would have made fun of us for years,” said Ferraz, who wore the jersey of Rio club Flamengo, whose red and black stripes match Germany’s away jersey.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

n AFP, Buenos Aires Argentines reacted with tears, cheers and violence after the dream of a third World Cup title slipped through their fingers Sunday, as clashes between hooligans and police ended a massive street party.

Tens of thousands of people flocked

People wishing to go home for Eid-ul-Fitr queue up at a ticket counter at Gabtoli Bus Terminal yesterday as sale of advance tickets kicked off. Most counters in the capital were overwhelmed by crowds MEHEDI HASAN

to the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, the iconic monument where the country traditionally celebrates and rallies, waving the flag, setting off fireworks and singing the praises of national hero Lionel Messi and their team.

Despite the 1-0 loss to Germany in the down-to-the-wire, extra-time  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Argentina fans clash with riot police at a public square in Buenos Aires after Argentina lost to Germany in their 2014 World Cup final in Brazil on July 13 REUTERS

n Tribune Report At least Tk47.5 lakh is being illegally exchanged every day for carrying out the import-export process at Chittagong Custom House, says a TIB research report.

According to the findings, around 6070 people, who are employed by the customs officers and known as “Badi Alam” or “Faltu,” act as brokers to transact the money that illegally changes hands throughout the import-export process.

These middlemen also know and use the passwords of the customs officials’ computers, posing a great threat to the security of the automated system.

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report titled “Chittagong Port and Custom House Import-Export Automation Process: Challenges for Good Governance and Finding out Ways,” also stated that around Tk17.2 lakh was illegally exchanged daily only for unloading imported goods.

The research was conducted to identify problems and irregularities at the Chittagong Customs House on automation perspectives, current status of automation and finding out ways to meet challenges.

The research by the graft watchdog found that despite the introduction of automated systems, custom officers were still using manual signatures and seals in a bid to avail illegal money from businessmen and organisations, while the related wings were still not online.

“A positive image has been created with enormous opportunity to ensure good governance after the introduction of automated systems at the Customs House; but a part of the customs are creating problems in implementing the process to make financial gains through illegal means,” said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the TIB. Publishing the report in a press conference at a city hotel, he also said the port city’s Customs House’s international grade would be upgraded if good governance could be ensured there.

To avoid bribery, there should not be any communication between service providers and receivers, said Iftekharuzzaman.

Although the introduction of automated systems was supposed to reduce graft, the TIB was surprised at the magnitude of corruption at the Customs House, he said, adding that the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Bangladesh has called upon the international community to create comprehensive pressure on Israel to stop its air strikes on Gaza.

Calling the attacks on the civilian population in Gaza unwanted and disgraceful, the cabinet discussed a condemn motion at a regular meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the secretariat yesterday.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting that the cabinet condemned the Israeli aggression against Gaza.

“Bangladesh is always with the Palestinians. The support of Bangladesh for Palestinians will always continue,” the condemn motion proposal read.

The death toll of Palestinian people killed in Israeli air strikes climbed to at least 176 yesterday, while 1,230 more have been wounded in the air strikes.

In the meeting, the cabinet also gave its approval in principal for the Bangladesh Railway Board (Repeal) Act 2014.

On Monday, Israel continued its air and naval bombardments of the Gaza while around half a dozen Israelis have been wounded since the start of the week-old offensive. Thousands of people have fled homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli warning.

Israel has massed thousands of troops on the border, amid speculation of a possible a ground invasion. l

SEHRI & IFTAR TIME Day Ramadan 16/July 15 Ramadan 17/July 16

Sehri – 3.50am

Iftar 6.53pm 6.52pm

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

National ENT institute to start operation today n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The National Institute of Ear, Nose and Throat, Bangladesh will open both its indoor and outdoor operations at full swing today. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim will officially launch the hospital’s service at 2pm.

The 250-bed specialised hospital built in the capital’s Tejgaon area was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina five years ago – on June 19, 2009. However, the hospital authority could not provide medical services due to a shortage in manpower and equipment.

Professor Dr Zahedul Alam, director of the ENT institute, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are now ready to offer high-quality treatment at our hospital.

The main objective of this institute is to identify and provide care to patients with hearing disability in the country.

We will also provide high-quality training and research opportunities to doctors and other health professionals in this institute.”

The Tk62-crore hospital has audio-vestibular and sleep laboratory, first of its kind in Bangladesh. It also has the facilities for laser, micro and endoscopy surgeries.

The institute still does not have the necessary manpower to run its operation. When asked about this, the director said: “Until June 30 this year, this institute was run as a project. But now it will receive revenue budget. At present we are running with a shortage of manpower, but we hope within a few months the recruitment will be complete.”

According to a survey conducted by

Fitra fixed at Tk65 n Tribune Report This year’s fitra has been fixed at Tk65 per person, considering the market price of wheat or flour.

The Islamic Foundation fixed the rate at a meeting yesterday morning.

Money equivalent to the market price of 1.65kg of wheat or flour, raisin, cheese or date could be distributed among the poor as fitra.

Last year, fitra was fixed at Tk66. l

Govt plans to reward officials linked to maritime verdict

n Mohosinul Karim The government may reward the officials concerned for their contribution to the achievement in maritime boundary dispute resolution with India.

The regular cabinet meeting yesterday also decided that the government would publish a gazette notification on the verdict issue. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would brief the media soon on the achievement.

Meeting sources said the people concerned, including the premier and Maritime Affairs Unit’s Secretary Md Khurshid Alam, would be rewarded.

But the decision was not finalised.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on July 7 awarded Bangladesh 19,467 sq-km disputed area out of total 25,602 sq-km claimed by Bangladesh. On March 14, 2012, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Germany settled the maritime dispute between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

After the cabinet meeting, State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu told the Dhaka Tribune that the premier and members of the cabinet heard the proposal made by the state minister for foreign affairs. Though they were very positive, they did not make any comment in this regard.

Khurshid Alam made a presentation before the cabinet while the state minister for foreign affairs narrated the ministry’s achievements.

Criticising the statements of the BNP, the premier said: “They should refrain from making such comments as the government has achieved success.

“The South Talpatti Island sank during the tidal bore in 1984. But the Ziaur Rahman government removed Talpatti from the map of Bangladesh in 1980.

Does it mean that Zia left the Talpatti to India?”

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the government ordered the authorities concerned to take steps for publishing the gazette on the government’s achievement and the new maritime map immediately. l

National Centre for Hearing and Speech with the collaboration of World Health Organisation in 2002, around 1.3 crore people suffer from hearing disability – around 9% of the country’s population.

During the last caretaker government’s regime, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry formed the National Committee for Prevention of Deafness headed by the then health adviser Shawkat Ali. The committee met and took the decision to establish the institute to curtail the number of patients with hearing disability by 90% within 2030.

Not-so-smooth beginning

The launch of operations is far from smooth for the state-of-the-art hospital. Investigation by the Dhaka Tribune revealed that two x-ray machines, worth around TK2 crore, that the Central Medicine Stored Depot (CMSD) supplied to the institute a few months ago were defective.

A high official told the Dhaka Tribune that when the machines arrived at the hospital, a survey committee comprising officials from CMSD, National Electro Medical Equipment Workshop, and other experts examined them and found both of them to be defective.

He said the contractor was instructed to import the machines from Europe, but the committee was suspecting that he might have brought them from China.

When asked about the matter, Professor Alam confirmed that the machines were indeed defective.

He said he had already notified the higher authority about it and had not taken the delivery of the machines. l

Parts of the fence of Sangsad Bhaban lie in tatters for a month, with authorities concerned staying oblivious about repairing it

MEHEDI HASAN

Khaleda: Killers Jasod and Ershad now allied with AL n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla After some senior BNP leaders’ statements about HM Ershad recently, now party Chairperson Khaleda Zia has branded the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) and Ershad as killers who have joined the Awami League government.

“The Awami League killed Jasod leaders and activists in 1972-75. At that time Jasod called the Awami League killer and vice versa. It is that Jasod that has allied with the Awami League government now,” she said yesterday.

“All the killers are with this illegal government. Jasod is with it and the other killer – Ershad – is also with it.

All the killers have united and established a reign of killing in the country,” she said at an iftar hosted by pro-BNP physicians’ organisation Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) at the parliament’s Lunch and Dining Hall.

The BNP chief alleged that the government had been filing false cases against opposition leaders and activists to upset their movement.

“But do not fear. All have to take to

streets, ignoring all sorts of fear,” she said, calling on her party men.

Khaleda reiterated that there was no legitimate and democratic government in office presently and there was no alternative to waging a united movement to oust this government.

The former premier said corruption, killing and abduction had been rampant in the country which had not stopped “even in the holy month of Ramadan.”

“Goons of the Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League are now

committing crimes. Extortion is taking place everywhere. Businessmen cannot do business. People have become frustrated,” she said.

Khaleda also alleged that meritorious doctors had been made OSD, which had resulted in immense sufferings to mass people.

“This situation prevails not only in the health sector but also in the administration. Even the judiciary cannot work independently,” she said.

DAB leaders, senior BNP leaders and hundreds of others joined the iftar. l

SC: Company jetties in Shitalakkhya PM unhappy with Messi n River must go Tribune Report

n Nazmus Sakib

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed five review petitions paving way for removing private jetties from the Shitalakkya River.

City Sugar Industries Ltd, Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, Kamal Vegetable Oil Ltd, Molla Salt Industries Ltd and CEMEX Cement Bangladesh Ltd filed petitions seeking review of an Appellate Division ruling that had directed the companies to remove the jetties.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain rejected the petitions.

Following a writ petition made by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, the High Court in 2009 ordered the protection of four rivers – Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag and Buriganga - surrounding Dhaka. The court also directed removal of all illegal structures.

After the verdict, Narayanganj administration in February 2010 served notices to the five companies to remove

the jetties. The commercial institutions filed petitions with the High Court challenging the notices, but these were rejected on March 21, 2010. Later, their appeals against the High Court order were dismissed on May 3, 2010.

The five companies lodged pleas asking the top court to review its judgement. With yesterday’s order, the court cleared the way to remove the jetties from the Shitalakkhya River, HRPB president Manzill Murshid told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her disappointment over Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s failure to score a goal in the World Cup final against Germany, telling her cabinet colleagues that she would have been happy if Messi had scored.

She made the remarks while chairing a regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat yesterday.

A cabinet member who attended the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune that Hasina – a Brazilian football team supporter – watched the World Cup final

and its presentation ceremony.

He quoted the premier as saying she had watched the match as she likes football and other sports, even after the team she supported could not reach the final.

“The premier expected a goal from Argentine superstar Messi; but she was frustrated as her expectation was not fulfilled. Hasina likes Messi as a player,” the cabinet member said.

On the other hand, Food Minister Kamrul Islam criticised Messi’s performance, calling the Argentine captain “foul” for his failure to score a goal. l

Brazil celebrates rival Argentina’s World Cup defeat TIB: Ctg customs officials  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Tensions rose with some fights reportedly breaking out between Brazilians and Argentines in Copacabana and outside the Maracana.

Police used tear gas to disperse fans near the stadium, the G1 news website reported. In Copacabana, some 50 people tossed beach chairs and bottles at each other, causing several injuries, according to local media.

Germany became the first European country to win the Cup in Latin America, but that was not enough to convince many Brazilians to support their southern neighbors.

Germany even humiliated Brazil in the semi-finals, trouncing the hosts 7-1.

But seeing their rivals win in their temple of football would have deepened the nightmare for Brazilians still dizzy from their team’s semi-final defeat and 3-0 third-place play-off loss to the Netherlands.

Brazilians painted the German flags on their cheeks and even wore the European team’s jersey.

On its website, the sports daily Lance asked “Tell me how you feel now?” in a response to a similar Argentine chant.

“With Brazil in their hearts, Germany are four-time world champions,” it said.

to have Brazilian backing.

“It feels really great that Brazilian are supporting us,” he said. “But we also felt sorry for Brazil with regards to the semi-final.”

Flamengo is Germany

But Argentines had not pulled punches either.

Since the tournament kicked off on June 12, legions of Argentines who flooded Brazilian cities taunted their hosts with chants that their hero Diego Maradona was better than Brazil legend Pele.

After Brazil’s loss to Germany, Argentines held up seven fingers and chanted “They ate seven goals!” Brazilians chanted back that they had won a record five titles.

After the loss to the Netherlands took the two-game tally to 10 goals, a group of Argentines walked down a Rio street in the dead of night and loudly counted to 10.

But now it is Argentina’s turn to cry. l

At a Rio bar, dozens of Brazilians cheering for Germany wore the Flamengo club’s shirt. Brazilians and Germans hugged each other, with Europeans saying they wanted their team to win the tournament for their hosts.

“We never want Argentina to win here in Brazil. Never,” said Cassio Conceicao, 51, wearing his beloved Flamengo jersey. “Germany respected us even though they thrashed us.”

Other Fla fans, as the local club is known, said Argentines should be content with having Pope Francis.

“They have the best pope, a wonderful pope. That’s enough,” said Barbara Dias, who watched the final with her husband Diego.

German fan Julian Deutz was happy

Argentine taunts

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

“remarkable” progress in import-export should be maintained for continued economic development.

The TIB report also suggested the introduction of online systems at all organisations related to customs duty and import-export release, stopping the opening and delivery of products at the port and making of evaluation reports by an independent third party regarding the effectiveness of automation and the officers’ efficiency. It also suggested formulating behavioural guidelines and technological training for officers and bringing the corrupt people to book.

M Hazfizzuddin Khan, former chairman of the TIB Board of Trustee, said: “Corruption prevention has stopped at Chittagong Port. Half automated and half manual systems will only enhance corruption.”

However, responding to the TIB findings, Chittagong Customs House Commissioner Masud Sadik told the Dhaka Tribune that the allegations were made indiscriminately, but admitted that

Launch tickets

Mix of tears, cheers and violence in Argentina

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Khandaker, however, said they had nothing to do if any launch owner sold tickets prior to the scheduled July 16 meeting.

“We will take decision on steamer tickets at the meeting,” he added.

BIWTA and BIWA have arranged to launch a 10-day special steamer service before five days of Eid to handle the passenger rush. Around 30 lakh passengers are expected to leave the capital by launch this year and a total of 115 launches would carry the home-bound people.

The BIWA chairman said additional launches are ready to carry passengers.

“Those vessels will be in operation if passenger demand is high enough. It will be a bit difficult to ensure smooth travel experience under such conditions but we will try our best. Hopefully, the passengers will enjoy a hassle-free journey this year,” he added. l

match, young Argentines climbed onto traffic lights and bus stops, dancing and singing to the beat of drums.

But after several hours of partying, dozens of hardcore fans known as “barra bravas” started throwing rocks at riot police watching over the crowd, who responded by firing rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon.

The clashes sent families with children scurrying for refuge in restaurants or hotel lobbies.

Most of the crowd dispersed as a haze of tear gas settled over the area, leaving just a few dozen fans who smashed windows and set trash on fire, determined to provoke the police.

Some looters stole what they could, including tables and chairs from a restaurant, and wrecked bus stop shelters.

Eight police were injured in the fray

and some 50 people were arrested, local media reported.

By around midnight (0300 GMT) police had cleared out the mob and the downtown area was quiet, but with no bus service.

Bittersweet ending

The clashes contrasted with the mostly celebratory reaction to the bittersweet end of the nation’s World Cup campaign.

“It was still a good World Cup. Reaching the final against Germany isn’t too bad. I’m proud of the team,” said Leandro Paredes, a 27-year-old mason.

“We didn’t manage to get revenge (for Argentina’s loss to Germany in its last World Cup final in 1990), but I saw 11 warriors on the pitch during this final.”

When the final whistle blew, the

50,000 people watching on a jumbo screen in Buenos Aires’s Plaza San Martin cheered for Messi and team - and found consolation in knowing they had at least bested arch-rivals and hosts Brazil, who finished in fourth place.

“Brazil, tell me how it feels to have your daddy in your house,” they sang to their South American neighbors, the song that has been Argentina’s anthem throughout this World Cup. Others sang “I’m Argentine, go Argentina, every day I love you a little more.”

Missed chance for revenge

Daniela Eula, a 21-year-old retail saleswoman, said she was “disappointed but not sad.”

“They lost with dignity, not like the 4-0 in South Africa,” she said - referring

there were some irregularities.

If there was any specific allegation, the authority concerned would investigate it and take actions against the involved person, Sadik said. Commenting on the middlemen known as “Faltu,” Sadik explained: “The process of appointing new officers is ongoing and after their appointment they [middlemen] will be ousted.”

“The customs officials record the import data immediately but do not enter export data, only to collect money from the exporters,” Exporters Association of Bangladesh President Abdus Salam Murshedy told the Dhaka Tribune.

Seeking anonymity, a manufacturer and exporter of RMG products told the Dhaka Tribune: “Through brokers, the officers demand Tk2,000 for every utilization declaration (UD) and we have to pay; otherwise shipments are delayed, goods go missing.”

Exporters also have to send products through airfreight because of the excessive hassle at the Customs House, he added. l

to another painful loss against Germany, in the 2010 quarter-finals.

The most disconsolate, mostly teenagers, sat on the sidewalk in shock, their eyes red with tears, or walked with their heads in their hands.

In a pizzeria transformed into a bratwurst-and-pretzel house for the match, the capital’s German community gathered to watch their team win, buying up the bar’s more than 100 liters of beer before halftime.

At the end of the match they drenched each other in beer, jumped on each other’s shoulders and sang “Deutschland, Deutschland!”

German Ambassador Bernhard Graf von Waldersee, who was in the crowd, had just enough time to say it had been “a great game” before his security detail whisked him away from a growing crowd of furious Argentines. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

ACC yet to take action against BASIC Bank high-ups n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission is yet to take any step against the former chairman and the sacked managing director of BASIC Bank with regard to their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Tk3,500 crore public fund from the state-owned institute.

On the matter, the commission initiated an inquiry last year, but it is yet to make any visible progress. So far, the ACC served notices to two suspended officials for submitting wealth statements, say ACC officials.

The ACC usually takes statements from persons allegedly involved in a scam when it initiates an inquiry. It also seeks wealth statements for allegations of accumulation of illegal wealth.

The ACC says it suspended inquiry after the MoU was signed. But the central bank claims that the MoU is not a bar to the commission’s inquiry The commission in May served notices to two officials and their families for amassing wealth illegally. They are former deputy managing director A Monaem Khan and former general manager Mohammad Ali. However, they have not submitted the statements as per the ACC notices.

The duo and four others were suspended in April this year for their alleged involvement in the scam.

However, no action has so far been taken against former chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu and former managing director Kazi Faqurul Islam. The MD was sacked on May 26 while the chairman resigned on July 4.

The commission suspended its inquiry soon after Bangladesh Bank signed a Memorandum of Understand-

ing with the BASIC Bank last year with a view to recover financial health of the state-owned bank.

“We have suspended the inquiry just after the signing of the MoU as it bars us to do so. But we can revive it again if the finance minister or the Bangladesh Bank wants,” ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

However, the central bank claims that there is no relationship between the ACC inquiry and the MoU. Rather the Bangladesh Bank is relying on the ACC investigation with a view to take action against former chairman Bacchu.

“The central bank has some limitations as it cannot take any legal action against culprits under the criminal laws. However, the bank will send detailed reports to the ACC so that the latter can conduct an in-depth investigation and find out the culprits behind the irregularities,” Bangladesh Bank Executive Director SM Moniruzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Bangladesh Bank report has found that some officials of the bank’s management played key role behind the irregularities while the former chairman was involved in loan disbursement.

The ACC has so far changed three inquiry officers. For this, none of them was able to prepare a probe report and the commission has nothing in hand to disclose publicly or take action.

In response to a question whether the ACC would take any action against Bacchu and Faqurul, or revive the inquiry after getting the central bank report, the ACC chairman said they would first analyse the report after getting a copy of it from the central bank.

The money was allegedly embezzled from different branches of the bank by sanctioning loans to some fake companies through letters of credit, inland bill purchases and counterfeit documents.

The irregularities took place mostly in Dilkusha, Shantinagar and Gulshan branches between 2009 and 2013. l

News

3

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Santu Larma warns government of unwanted situation n Abid Azad The government would be held responsible for any unanticipated situation in the CHT region that may evolve if it executes any undemocratic or anti-people initiative in contrary to the 1997 peace accord, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya (Santu) Larma said yesterday.

Santu Larma, who signed the accord with the then Awami League government to end a decade-long armed struggle, made the announcement at a press conference in the capital’s Hotel Sundarban, organised by the PCJSS. He alleged that the Awami League government had utterly failed to implement the fundamental points of the accord.

Santu also strongly condemned the

recent attack on members of the CHT Commission on July 5 in Rangamati.

“Several groups and settler Bangalees, who are being patronised by the government and its other agencies, continue their activities with the aim to grab indigenous people’s land forcefully. Their intention becomes clear after the attack on the visiting CHT Commission team.”

The PCJSS chief criticised the government for taking initiatives to establish a science and technology university and a medical college, to enact the CHT Development Board Act, 2014, and to amend the Hill District Council Act, 2014 since the government had not discussed these issues with the CHT Regional Council as per related laws.

He said the government had passed the CHT Development Board Act, 2014 in parliament unilaterally on July 1

which he termed “undemocratic” since it would go against the interests of the indigenous people.

Regarding the proposed university and the medical college, he referred to the Kaptai Sweden Polytechnic Institute. “If admission takes place following the proposed rules and regulations, 90% outsider students will be able to take admission.

“The PCJSS thinks that without establishing such controversial academic institutions, the government should rather focus the three government colleges in the CHT region which need more subjects in honours and masters levels. The government should also increase number of teachers, quota for students, scholarships and logistic support.”

On the three hill district councils,

Santu Larma said no government had taken any initiative to hold election to the bodies in the last 22 years. “Every ruling party appointed their own party members and followers as chairmen and members to operate the councils undemocratically,” he alleged.

He also criticised the government for not passing the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act, 2013. It was placed in parliament last year but remain pending with the parliamentary standing committee.

Santu Larma later presented a 17-point charter for demands that include withdrawal of all temporally Army, Ansar, APB and VDP camps, rehabilitation of the displaced indigenous people, and banning anti-peace accord group United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). l

Students of Dhaka University form a human chain in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday, demanding an end to Israel’s recent attack on Palestinians MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

10 DU journalists injured in Chhatra League attack; 12 suspended

International call terminations increasing outside Dhaka

n Kailash Sarkar and Arif Ahmed

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Witnesses said the Chhatra League men attacked the journalists following an altercation.

The students of mass communication and journalism department, who work for different media, were playing a football match at the Mall Chattar – in front of Surya Sen Hall – immediately after the iftar.

The Chhatra League men asked them to leave the ground immediately.

As they refused to leave the place, the Chhatra League activists equipped with sharp weapons and sticks launched the attack leaving at least 10 journalists injured.

When contacted, Chhatra League leader Mobarak denied the involvement of his followers in the incident claiming that some outsiders might have done it.

Proctor Amzad Ali said strict action would be taken against the attackers. l

The central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League has suspended for life 12 activists of Dhaka University’s Surya Sen Hall unit for their involvement in the attack on journalists last night.

Activities of the unit was also suspended in a decision made by the ruling Awami League’s student wing.

Police detained three Chhatra League activists of the hall committee in this connection. They are Shariful Islam, Bidyut and Abdul Halim.

At least 10 students, who are also university correspondents at different media, sustained stab injuries when some activists of Chhatra League attacked them on the campus last evening.

Galib Ashraf of the Daily Independent, Masudur Rahman of Somoy Television, Monirul Islam of Jamuna

Bail of Tarique’s PS rejected n Court Correspondent

State counsels appear as aide of accused

High Court questions NHRC’s reluctance to assist rape victim

n Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

n Nazmus Sakib

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected the bail petition of Mia Nur Uddin Apu, personal secretary to exiled BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, in a bribery case.

Judge Basudev Roy of the Special Judge’s Court 3 passed the order and sent him to jail.

Absconding since January 11, 2007, Apu surrendered at a Dhaka court on June 18 this year and sought bail. According to media report, he used to live in Malaysia and London before that.

On October 4 of 2007, the case was filed by the ACC against seven people on charges of paying a bribe of Tk21 crore to former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar to drop the name of business tycoon Shah Alam’s son Sanvir from the charge of killing Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of Bashundhara Telecommunications Network Ltd. Sabbir was killed in a house, owned

by Bashundhara Group, at Gulshan on July 5, 2006.

Apu surrendered to the court and sought bail in another case. But the court rejected his plea and sent him to jail. Then he was shown arrested in the ACC case. l

At least 25 prosecution lawyers of Bogra have been found to be involved in assisting the BNP-Jamaat men who are accused in cases filed by the state over murder and political violence in the district last year.

Five of the counsels – also members of ruling party-backed Awami Ainjibi Parishad – had already been warned for breaching the job rules, public prosecutor Md Montejar Rahman Montu and General Secretary of the Parishad Naresh Mukherjee confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

“Even though five lawyers have been asked to refrain from such acts as per departmental action, many other prosecution lawyers and other lawyers under the Parishad are consistently helping the accused with legal advice,” Naresh said.

“We will inform the Law Ministry about the matter soon,” he added.

Montejar said: “A lawyer cannot work against a state case after he/she is appointed as a prosecution counsel.”

Most of the accused state counsels, however, have refuted the allegation.

Earlier, the Awami Ainjibi Parishad warned additional public prosecutor Zakir Hossain Nabab for providing legal assistance to the persons who are accused in a case filed over vandalism and arson attack on the local Awami League office in Shahjahanpur on March 2 last year.

As many as 279 people, mostly members of Jamaat-e-Islami, are accused in this case. The attacks were launched to protest against the death penalty awarded for Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee saying that he was seen in the Moon.

Of the four other state counsels, Parishad member Md Yunus Ali assisted Shah Alam – an accused in the case filed over arson attacks on government offices in Nandigram.

The three other lawyers, who are accused of assisting the Jamaat-Shibir men, are additional deputy public prosecutor Fazlul Huq Sabuj, additional public prosecutor Abdul Quader Moznu and Rafiqul Islam. l

Although the number of illegal international phone call terminations being made from Dhaka has been brought down in recent times, the practice has increased in areas outside the capital, authorities concerned have observed.

A meeting of a high-level committee at the telecom regulator’s office also observed that the illegal call termination situation was under control in most of Dhaka except for a few “protected” areas where they had no jurisdiction, said a senior RAB official who was present at the meeting.

Illegal termination, however, had increased in cities like Chittagong and Sylhet as internet price was slashed and more internet bandwidth available there.

This was the first meeting since the

The High Court yesterday directed the National Human Rights Commission to submit a written explanation by September 10 as to why it was reluctant to assist a rape victim.

In its 2011 annual report, the NHRC states that if a rape or murder is not committed by a state employee, those offences will not be counted as a violation of human rights Following a writ petition, the bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Ejarul Haque Akondo also issued a ruling asking why the NHRC’s inaction should not be declared illegal.

The court issued another ruling asking why the commission’s position that murder, rape and acid violence in pri-

telecom regulator formed the committee against illegal call termination last April that comprises representatives from the RAB, the Police, the DB, the CID, the SB and other agencies.

Md Sarwar Alam, member of the committee and a BTRC director, also acknowledged the issues that were discussed at the meeting.

In the meeting, BTRC officials said over the last one and half year, mobile operators had blocked around 52 lakh SIMs that were allegedly used for illegal termination.

In 2013, operators blocked 31 lakh SIMs following 27 drives; while during the first half of 2014, RAB carried out 34 drives and blocked 21 lakh SIMs. The BTRC asked for more police involvement in investigating cases regarding illegal call termination as the progress was sluggish and no charge sheet was being submitted despite the

filing of around a dozen cases every year.

Police officials said investigation process was not going faster as they were not involved with the process.

The committee decided to increase their operation frequency even in mobile operators’ office. The government body also discussed Facebook crimes being committed against the state.

Committee Convener Brig Gen Md Wahid-Uz-Zaman, also the director general of Spectrum Management Division, presided over the meeting where representatives from every agency were present.

The country receives around 5.5 crore minutes of legal international calls per day, according to BTRC statistics. However, it is also estimated that around 2-2.5 crore minutes are illegally terminated every day. l

Television, Arafat Sarkar Setu of Asian TV, Farazuddin of the daily Bangladesh Pratidin, Zahid Hasan of The Report, Mahmudul Hasan of Banglanews24, Rafiqul Islam of the daily Kaler Kantho and Reza Akash of the daily Manob Kantha were among the victims. They were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Some 25 followers of Surya Sen Hall unit Chhatra League President Mobarak Hossain carried out the attack, witnesses said.

A three-member probe body led by central committee Vice-President Joydev Nondi was also formed to look into the matter, Chhatra League President Badiuzzaman Sohagh said.

The suspended activists are Mizanur Rahman, Bidyut, Shariful Islam, Sohagh, Nobel, Mehedi, Mokhlesur Rahman, Khokan, Hamid, Zakir, Rahat and Parvez.

vate arenas are not violations of human rights, should not be held illegal.

The NHRC chairman and its secretary, and the home secretary were asked to reply to the rulings within four weeks, Abdul Halim, lawyer of petitioner Hasina Aktar, told the Dhaka Tribune.

A case was filed after a girl had fallen victim to rape on August 30 last year.

But the accused were freed on bail on February 14 this year. The victim filed applications twice with the NHRC on

April 3 and May 18 seeking its assistance to get the certified copy of the bail order.

But the commission did not respond and remained silent about the applications, Halim said.

In its 2011 annual report, the commission stated that if a rape or murder is not committed by a state employee, those offences will not be counted as a violation of human rights, the petitioner’s lawyer said. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

DIABETES BECOMING PANDEMIC

Health Ministry to introduce a national protection policy soon n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Diabetes is rapidly growing into a pandemic as the number of patients is on the rise, health experts say.

Over 84 lakh people are estimated to be suffering from diabetes across the country.

In 2011 September, during the UN conference on Control and Protection of Non-communicable diseases including diabetes, a series of recommendations were made to make policy and implement at the national level.

It was learned that the Health Ministry was going to introduce the National Diabetes Protection Policy soon in 2014.

A draft of the policy has already been posted on the ministry’s website

(www.mohfw.gov.bd) seeking public opinion.

The objective of the draft policy is to build awareness among people to protect themselves from this disease.

There are four types of diabetes. Of the four, pregnant women risk having type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Besides, there are other types of diabetes.

In Bangladesh around 95% of patients have been suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Professor Dr AK Azad Khan, president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune the number of diabetics had been rising all over the world and turning it into a pandemic.

He added that the number of type 2 diabetes patients had been grow-

ing into an epidemic in the Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh.

Asked about the reason, Azad laid blame rapid urbanisation, changes in lifestyle, lack of physical exercise and consumption of high-calorie food leading to weight gain.

The health professional also suggested creating mass awareness to contain the spread of diabetes.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Health that it was finally going to introduce the policy,” he said, adding that the government would not have to spend money for this; it needed to take an initiative which would save thousands of people from diabetes.

The Health Ministry officials said on December 20, 2006, the United Nations

passed a resolution, announcing November 14 as the World Diabetes Day. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh placed a proposal in this regard before the United Nations, they added.

The policy suggests a myriad of health tips to stave people off diabetes.

The tips include discouraging people from eating fast food and soft drink and highlighting their harmful effects, cigarette smoke, setting up billboard and signboard with messages regarding this disease, increasing facilities for exercise in educational institutes, establishing health club, planned urbanisation, health education in hospitals and clinics and building awareness about food for pregnant mothers through SMS. l

Ivy: Shamim Osman is the greatest liar n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy called Shamim Osman the greatest liar of all time.

“Shamim Osman is the biggest liar ever and he said he [Shamim] considers people to be dogs and he has no ability to do anything for the people,” said Ivy.

‘If he [Shamim] was a good man, he would never have said such big lies in public’ She made the remarks yesterday while addressing the city corporation’s budget announcement programme.

On Sunday, at a party programme in the district, the lawmaker from Narayanganj 4 alleged that the Narayan-

Parliamentary standing committee visits Babuchhara n Our Correspondent,

Joy pledges speedy and cheap internet n Emran Hossain Shaikh Prime Minister’s Adviser on ICT Sajeeb Wazed Joy yesterday said existing laws will be reformed if necessary to make the internet available at every home in the country.

He made the statement while attending a meeting with the owners of internet providers at Ganabhaban.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy said: “The internet is very slow in our country. To make it speedy and cheap, existing laws will be reformed if necessary.”

He also asked for the cooperation of the internet providers to make internet available for everyone. l

Khagrachhari

An 11-members Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry yesterday visited the newly established 51 Babuchhara BGB Battalion.

The team was headed by RAM Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury MP, president of of the committee.

During the visit, the team spoke to indigenous locals who claimed that the BGB had established the camp on their ancestral land and requested the visiting team to take action in this regard.

The protesters, however, could not present any legal documents to prove their claim.

The committee also asked the indigenous people to remain peaceful and said government should provide compensation to those who lost their land.

Later, the team also helped facilitate a discussion with the high-officials of Border Guard Bangladesh , who formed the Battalion on May 15 this year to protect 47 km unprotected borders from criminal activities.

Earlier, the committee also held a meeting with Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Karim regarding the issue. l

Businessman shot in capital n Tribune Report

Several mobile food carts line up and block a portion of the Shahbagh-Kataban road after they were evicted by police from Dhaka University campus. This picture was taken on Saturday RAJIB DHAR

Student slain for not attending BCL iftar n Our Correspondent, Jessore A Jessore student was stabbed to death yesterday allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists reportedly for not attended a BCL iftar party.

BCL members are believed to have killed Naimul Islam Riyad, 25, son of Kazi Monirul Islam of Segunbagicha, Dhaka. The victim was a fourth–year environment science student at Jessore Science and Technology University.

Jessore Science and Technology University was closed indefinitely following the murder, following an emergency meeting on Monday with the vice chancellor in the chair. Students were asked to vacate the halls by 10am today.

ganj gas crisis has remained unresolved due to the non-cooperation of Mayor Ivy. She basically made her comments in response to that accusal.

Ivy also stated: “If he [Shamim] was a good man, he would never have said such big lies in public. Killings, extortion, tender manipulation, controlling the garments and telling lies are his only ‘abilities.’”

The mayor continued that whenever Titas Gas Company sought approval to cut roads to set up gas pipelines, the city corporation gave them permission without any delay and later the Petrobangla chairman inaugurated the task.

During the budget session programme, Shamim’s elder brother Selim Osman, also a recently elected MP from Narayanganj 5, was present and before leaving he said: “Most of the areas of the city corporation belong to my constituency and I want to work with the corporation for the sake of the residents.” l

Jessore district unit BCL President Ariful Islam Riyad told journalists that Jessore district unit Awami League General Secretary Shahin Chaklader had his followers in the Chhatra League kill Riyad.

Ariful alleged that the student was slain because he had not attended an iftar mahfil on Sunday which was arranged by the university unit BCL and where Shahin was the chief guest.

Dr NK Alam, medical officer at Jessore Medical College Hospital, said the student had died before he was brought to the hospital around 2:30pm.

Anisur Rahman, superintendent of Jessore police, said officers had been deployed in the university campus after the incident. l

A businessman was shot yesterday in the capital’s Nawabpur area.

The victim, Mohammad Asif, 38, runs a shop named Asif Enterprise in the area.

Sources said another businessman Kaiyum Molla shot him after an altercation over the repairing of an electric fan.

Asif received injuries on his left thigh.

Officer-in-Charge of Wari police station Topon Chandra Shaha told the Dhaka Tribune: “Kaiyum was arrested and his revolver was also seized.” l

Madrasa students quit to escape cleric’s torment n Our Correspondent, Chandpur

A good number of students of a madrasa in Chandpur have allegedly left the institution because of the corporal punishment inflicted on them by a cleric.

Abul Kalam Azad, chief of Madinatul Ulul Hafejia Madrasa at Taltala Bazar of Maishadi union in the sadar upazila, has allegedly subjected students to merciless beatings and physical torture, causing the depressed students to leave.

Nadim, a former student of the madrasa, said he left and got into a different school as he could not bear the beatings from Azad, also known as “boro hujur.”

On Friday, Aminul Islam Sagor, 12, the son of Nazrul Islam Miji of the village, was brutalised by Azad. He was a student of the hifz group. Witnessing Sagor’s treatment, his younger brother

Saiful Islam Shakil left the madrasa.

“I went to the madrasa at 9am. Azad ordered me to clean his room and veranda with a broom, and went out. I did accordingly. When he returned, he asked me why his shoes were displaced and who took Tk6,000 from the room,” recalled Sagor.

“Without giving me the chance to say something, Azad began beating me with two canes and hit me at least 30 times. At one point, I lay down on the floor but he dragged me to the second floor where he punched, kicked and whacked at me. I was bleeding and a fellow student escorted me home,” he added.

Sagor’s mother Runu Begum said she had screamed out on seeing her son’s blood-stained panjabi.

“I told Sagor to take off his panjabi and saw numerous cane marks,” she said.

When Runu took Sagor to the madrasa, Azad said: “Go back home and everything will be fine. I was out of my mind when I beat him. Take your son to a doctor and you may take the money to buy medicine, if necessary.”

Nurul Islam Patowary, a local resident, said he saw the cane marks on Sagor’s body as well.

“It was brutal and barbaric, and the act was condemnable. I often hear of Azad treating students in this way.

Such incidents were also alleged in the past,” he said.

Sagor’s father, an imam at Zakiganj, Sylhet, told the Dhaka Tribune that treating students in this way manner was completely unexpected from a cleric.

“I could not accept it when I learned what had happened. I stay far away from my family. I work hard here to

Disgruntled mother commits suicide in Jatrabari n Tribune Report

As part of increased security measures taken prior to Eid-ul-Fitr, police check people at different spots in the capital

MEHEDI HASAN

A woman committed suicide apparently out of anger by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in Jatrabari, Dhaka yesterday.

The deceased, Runa Akhter, 35, was from Maishepara village in Shariyatpur district. She used to live with her son in a rented house in Jatrabari. Her husband, Mohammad Ali, is an expatriate living in South Africa.

Runa’s son, Rakibul Hassan Samadar, is an eleventh-grader in Dr Mahbubul Rahman Molla College in Jatrabari.

Asked about what happened, Rakib said: “My tutor came to my house around 1pm, but I was away. When I came home, my tutor was about to

leave as the time was up. Because I was late, my mother got angry and scolded me, and I yelled back at her as well. At one point, she threw me out and locked the door. Later, she hung herself from a ceiling fan.”

Mozammel Haque, in-charge of DMCH police camp, detained Rakibul and his uncle Sirajul Haque and handed them over to Jatrabari police.

Oboni Shankar, officer-in-charge of Jatrabari police station, said Runa’s body had been taken to Dhaka Medical Collage Hospital around 2:45pm for a post-mortem, and a case of unnatural death had been filed with the police station in this regard.

Mohammad Ali, Runa’s husband, is scheduled to come to Bangladesh on July 23. l

earn money and want to make both my sons hafiz. Now after what has happened to Sagor, I do not want them to continue at the madrasa and I also demand justice for this incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, Azad offered his apology and said he was sorry for what had happened to Sagor on Friday.

“Yes, I crossed the limit a bit when I beat him. Tk6,000 was stolen from my room and nobody went there except Sagor, which is why I suspected his involvement in the theft,” he said.

The madrasa was founded 27 years ago and Azad has been supervising the institution since then. His hometown is in Kachua upazila.

Amir Zafar, superintendent of Chandpur police, told the Dhaka Tribune he had learned about the incident and would take action if a complaint was lodged. l

Suspected gold smugglers remanded

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday placed seven suspected gold smugglers on a fourday remand in connection to a case filed for the recovery of around 14 kilogrammes of gold at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jaynab Begum passed the order when Sub-Inspector Jasim Uddin of airport police station produced them before the court seeking a 10-day remand petition for questioning.

The remanded detainees are Amir Hossain, Jasim Uddin, Ahed Chowdhury, Nazim Uddin, Lokman Bhuiyan, Salauddin and Anwar Hossain.

On Sunday, customs officials arrested the seven persons after recovering 119 gold bars, weighing around 14kg, from their bodies at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

The bars, worth around Tk 7 crore, was brought by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight that came from Dubai via Sylhet. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

English medium schools say fee restriction means quality losses Parents divided over charging session fees, hike in tuition

n Tribune Report English medium school authorities fear the quality of education they provide would suffer if restrictions were imposed on changing their fee structure.

School authorities said this in response to demonstrations made by some parents against charging session fees and increasing the tuition fee charged by English medium schools.

Guardians seemed divided over charging session fees. Some said they wanted quality education and had no problems with session fees, while others were against session fees and tuition fee increases.

'We need to give increments to teachers every year, and operation costs increase every year' Camellia Ahmad, a parent, said that there were very few institutions in the country that were providing a high quality education, and English medium schools were among the few institutions that did so.

“We don’t want to see them destroyed. We fear restrictions on English medium schools would negatively affect the quality of education,” she said.

She said that a good number of guardians wanted quality education from English medium schools and they understood that money was required to ensure quality.

However, some guardians, united under the banner of “Guardians of English Medium Schools,” held protests in Dhanmondi on June 3 and sought government intervention to bar schools from charging re-admission fees.

On April 23, the High Court directed the government to take effective steps to frame education rules regarding monthly tuition fees, re-admission fees, and session charges at English medium schools.

One school authority said his school had obtained a stay order from the Appellate division until July14.

After the High Court order, the Education Ministry formed a committee which will confer with English medium school administrators.

Most schools opposed fee restrictions. They said they believed the government could monitor quality but should not impose fee restrictions.

Dhaka Tribune approached several English medium school authorities but they declined to comment.

One principal of an English medium school in Dhanmondi told the Dhaka Tribune that if his school could not charge session fees, or were barred from revising tuition fees, the school’s quality would suffer.

“We need to give increments to teachers every year, and operation costs increase every year,” he said.

He said session fees covered the school magazine, orientation, annual sports day, extracurricular activities, graduation ceremony and annual dinner.

“How could we possibly provide all of that without charging session fees?” he asked. l

A girl with a child climbs up the high road-divider to cross the street near New Market. They cross the road taking risk instead of using the foot over-bridge just beside them SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Crimes escalate in Narayanganj 24 dead in 41 days, Nagorik Committee blames failure to deliver justice The tied-up body of a 42-year-old led to the murder of four peo- it led to a culture of injustice in the n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj pleDrugs district which is why killings continue unidentified woman was recovered in the 41-day period.

Law and order in Narayanganj has deteriorated alarmingly as a total of 24 people were killed in 41 days, spanning from June 1 till July 11.

In an effort to overhaul the local administration, eighty-one officials were transferred following the sensational murder of seven people in the district but crimes, including killing, mugging and drug peddling, show no signs of abating.

Abdur Rahman, general secretary of Narayanganj Nagorik Committee, said although there was a lull in the activities of Nur Hossain’s men following the seven murders, other top criminals in the area remain in full swing.

“The subordinates of these criminals are involved in land occupation, mugging, drug peddling and other crimes. As justice was not delivered in the murder of Tawki,

n CU Correspondent The admission test for four-year honours courses for the 2014-15 academic session at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) will be held on November 15, according to a press statement signed by Khalikur Rahman, public relations officer of CVASU. The press statement issued yesterday, said the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Professor Dr AS Mahfuzul Bari, vice-chancellor of CVASU. The details about the admission test will be published soon, said the statement. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

WEATHER

TUESDAY, JULY 15 DHAKA

TODAY SUN SETS 6:49PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:20AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

32

27

Chittagong

31

26

Rajshahi

32

26

Rangpur

31

27

Khulna

31

26

Barisal

30

26

Sylhet

31

26

Cox’s Bazar

31

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.5ºC Rangamati

25.0ºC Sylhet

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:55am 5:19am 12:05am 4:45pm 6:49pm 8:15pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

from a half-built building on June 11.

Another body of a 53-year-old woman, Jahura Khatun, was recovered from Gutiabo area on the same day.

Khandakar Mahid Uddin, superintendent of Narayanganj police, refused to comment on the rise in crimes, though he said earlier that he would reestablish peace in the district by taking measures to improve the situation. l

Abducted youth rescued in Chittagong, three held

CVASU admission test on November 15

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

unabated,” he added.

On June 3, police recovered the decomposed body of an unidentified woman from the bank of Brahmaputra river in Baluchar. She had injuries on her head.

In the early hours of June 7, police recovered the body of Anwar Hossain, 38, from Mirkutirseo area of Murapara union. He was a resident of Barpa area in the upazila.

Football fans enjoy World Cup final on big screen in Dhaka University area yesterday

RAJIB DHAR

Police rescued an abducted man from a residence at KB Aman Road in Chittagong city’s Bakalia area on Sunday night, three days after his abduction.

They also arrested three men – Abdur Rahman, Nizam Uddin and Md Selim – allegedly in connection with the abduction, said police sources.

The victim, Jasim Uddin, 22, a resident of Hamjarbagh area in the port city’s Panchlaish area, was abducted when he went to a mosque near his residence for Asr prayers on Friday, police said.

When he did not return home, his family members went to look for him but failed to find him. Later, they re-

RU student killed in train accident n RU Correspondent

Transport strike on Khulna-Mawa Highway makes people sufferers

A female student of Rajshahi University was killed in a train accident yesterday.

The deceased was Ishrat Arefin Alam, a first year student of applied mathematics department at RU. She comes from Hetemkha area under Boalia police station in Rajshahi.

The accident took place around 11am in the Fine Arts department area inside the campus.

Friends of Ishrat told reporters that Ishrat was talking on the phone and walking on railway lines. A Rajshahi bound train coming from Parbatipur, hit her from the back seriously injuring her head. She was admitted to RMCH where the on duty doctor declared her dead around 12:45pm.

Ishrat’s friends said she had been depressed for the last few days over her love affair and the accident could be a result of that.

The body was preserved at the RMCH morgue for autopsy until filing of this report at 8:37pm.

Motihar police station Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that the reason behind the incident was yet to be identified. l

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Thousands of people living in southern districts particularly in Khulna and Barisal suffered yesterday from the lack of available transport. This is because of an indefinite transport strike enforced by the Khulna Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association which has now entered into a day second.

The association of the transport workers went on the indefinite transport strike on the Khulna-Mawa Road on Sunday protesting vandalism of a vehicle by the labourers of another transport owners’ association.

Road communications between Dhaka and the southern region of the country remained severed as a result of the transport strike yesterday.

No long-route bus or minibus ran on the road after the strike started in the morning.

But the vehicles plied on alternative roads, including Rajbari-Goalanda Road, said Sona Miah, joint secretary of Khulna Bus-minibus Owners’ Association.

Limon Hossain, a resident of Sarafpur village in Khulna, said, “It is unfortunate

that plying of vehicles on the highway has been stopped over a trivial matter.”

He said if the transport strike would not be withdrawn immediately, commuters who are home-bound for eid would have to suffer the most.

Suvra Choudhury, a master’s student of Khulna University, said she wanted to go the capital for Eid shopping, but she could not go because of the ongoing transport strike.

He said if the transport strike would not be withdrawn immediately, commuters who are home-bound for eid would have to suffer the most She said transport workers always called strikes over trivial matter without considering the plight of commuters.

A clash ensued between the activists

of Khulna Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association and Gopalganj Bus-minibus Owners Association after an altercation over a trivial matter on Sunday afternoon.

Later, Gopalganj Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association activists vandalised a bus on the way to Khulna from Barisal and beat up a bus worker indiscriminately.

Later, Khulna Bus-minibus Owners Association announced the indefinite strike from 8pm on Sunday protesting the attack.

Md Bulbul Islam, President of Gopalganj District Motor Union, told the Dhaka Tribune that they would not allow to run any vehicle of Khulna through the highway until people, who vandalised the vehicles are punished.

Md Anwar Hossain, general secretary of Khulna Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association, said they had stopped the plying of vehicles on the Khulna-Mawa Highway to save the life of workers as well as protect vehicles from vandalism.

“We will continue the strike until a mutual agreement between the two transport owners’ associations is held,” he said. l

ceived a phone call from his abductors who demanded a ransom of Tk4 lakh in exchange for his release.

The family then went to Panchlaish police on Sunday morning and filed a case with the police station, said Abu Jafar Mohammad Omar Faruk, officer-in-charge of Panchlaish police station.

Following the abductors’ instructions, police, posing as Jasim’s family, went to Rahattapul around 8:30pm, where one of the abductors came to meet them and they were able to nab him, said the OC. Later, police rescued Jasim – his hands and feet had been tied with chains – from KB Aman Road around 10:30pm and arrested two others, he added. l

Housewife killed in Chittagong; 3 held

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Police recovered a body of a housewife, whose throat had been slit open, early yesterday from her residence at Sultanpur village in Raozan upazila here.

The deceased Halima Khatun, 27, was the wife of Md Babul, of the village.

On suspicion, police nabbed Babul and two others, the victim’s sister Jannatul Ferdouse and her husband Md Solaiman, who were visiting Halima.

Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Raozan police station, said the ill-fated woman, who was a mother of three children, had been slaughtered just before dawn.

On being informed by locals, police recovered the body, which bore many injuries, in the morning and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital Morgue for an autopsy.

The OC also stated that Babul was detained for questioning although he was not present during the murder.

The three were questioned at the police station but no motive could be established for the killing till the filing of this report some time before sunset.

The OC assumed that a family feud centring a dispute over a piece of land may have led to the brutal killing. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Jamalpur roads riddled by potholes n Our Correspondent, Jamalpur Residents of BISCIC industrial area in Jamalpur district town have been suffering because of the dilapidated conditions of roads which are also riddled by hundreds potholes.

People of the area suffer because of waterlogging caused by the poor drainage system. During the rainy season, frequent accidents occur as the rainwater floods the streets and conceals the broken section of the roads.

Locals said people, who want to avoid these road have to travel through a time-consuming alternative route.

Moreover, industrial entrepreneurs cannot transport their goods properly because the roads are so rundown.

The sources said a BISCIC industrial area has been set in the centre of Jamal district town in 1980 in a bid to rehabilitate erosion effected people.

Different entrepreneurs are operating at least 57 factories in the town. Production of the factories are sometimes hampered as raw materials cannot be supplied to factories, said the sources.

Many entrepreneurs told the Dhaka Tribune that they would be compelled to shut down their business as they could not get raw materials in time and also could not supply products to customers.

They said they had informed authorities concerned several times, but they did not take any measures to repair the roads.

Faruk Ahmed, managing director of Rokeya Chemical, said they had to count extra cost while bring raw materials and supplying those to customers.

Md Atikur Rahman, owner of Hridy Rice Mills, said they could not dry paddy during the rainy reason as “chattal”, a place where paddy is dried up and processed, is inundated by rainwater.

“Sometimes we fail to supply rice to customers as we cannot processed paddy in time,” he said.

When contacted, Nihar Ranjon Das, assistant managing director of BISCIC, said they had informed Jamalpur municipal authority about the roads.

He hoped that they municipal authority would repair the road as soon as possible. l

5 injured in AL factional clash n Our Correspondent, Kushtia

Truckers victims of rampant extortion

At least five people, including police, were injured in a clash yesterday between two groups of Awami League following the submission of a tender at a hospital in Doulotpur upazila.

Obaidur Rahman, sub-inspector of Doulotpur police station said the supporters of Tokon Chowdhury, brother of a local MP, and upazila Awami League convener committee member Sarder Atiar Rahman’s followers engaged in a clash following the submission of a tender for supplying medicines to the upazila government hospital.

They hurled brick chips and bombs at each other, leaving five injured.

They also vandalized six or seven motorcycles, including that of Ekhushey TV Kushtia correspondent Juhurul Islam.

Of the injured, police personnel Anis and Bazlu were sent to Doulotpur Hospital. l

n Our Correspondent, Shariatpur

Truck drivers pay the traffic police between Tk500 to 1000 as toll at different points on the Shariatpur-Chandpur, Shariatpur-Mawa and Shariatpur-Madaripur Highways.

The police check documents including driving licences, route permits and fitness certificates and if the drivers fail to produce any papers, the amount of extortion increases.

The drivers who operate on the highways have complained that some corrupt traffic police and terrorists collect tolls at different points like Angaria, Monoharbazar, Burirhat under Shariatpur Sadar upazila, Mongol Majhir ferry terminal and Janjira bus stand under Janjira upazila, Naria and Bhedargoj bus stands.

Najim Uddin, a truck driver from Chhaygaon union under Bhedarganj

A road in Jamalpur BISCIC area lies in a dilapidated condition, causing sufferings for local people

BSF returns Bangladeshi cowherd’s body

upazila complained that tolls were collected by the police and terrorists.

Truck drivers Rahman Miah, Hashem Molla, Shahjahan Miah and Kutubuddin, who operate on the Shariatpur-Chandpur Highway, said that tolls were collected indiscriminately from cattle carrying trucks, at different points.

Motorbike drivers Israfil, Monir, Pilot and Bipul alleged that some DB police are collecting toll from the drivers because they have no driving licences or other documents.

The owners and the drivers of the vehicles plying on different routes of the district have urged the authorities concerned to take effective steps so that this extortion can be stopped.

When contacted, Superintendent of Police Md Saifullah Al Mamun told this correspondent that steps will be taken against the corrupt police personnel. l

n

Our Correspondent, Satkhira

BSF has returned the body of a Bangladeshi cowherd after a flag meeting with BGB at Townsreepur border in Debhata upazila, Satkhira.

Sub-inspector of Debhata police station Mijbah Uddin received Nazrul Islam’s body on Sunday afternoon.

The 40-year-old Nazrul was the son of Sadar Uddin, a resident of Haraddaha village in the upazila.

At the meeting, 34 BGB battalion Commander Lt Col Shamsul Kabir and Z Angam, inspector of Taki BSF camp of the force’s 47 battalion, represented their respective forces.

Ashuganj gas compressor adds to the national grid n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria

People wade through knee-deep water in Mothbaria municipality area of Pirojpur yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

High tide floods 10 villages in Pirojpur n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur Ten villages under Pirojpur district have been flooded by high tide which happens during a full moon.

In the past few days, cracks started appearing on the embankments in

different villages under Boromachua and Shapleza union of the district, because of the rise in the water level in Boleswar river.

As a result, Chorbholmara and south Boromachua villages under Boromachua union and Kochubaria and Khetachhira villages under Shapleza union have been inundated, causing immense sufferings to the local residents.

Sirajuddin, a local of Boromachua said the water level in Boleswar river rose by three to four ft more than usual which left the households in the surrounding

areas submerged.

Israt Jahan, a housewife of Mothbaria, said she could not cook as her house has been inundated. Milon Gazi, a businessman in the same area said he had close down his shop as it was flooded.

Md Abu Saleh, member of Shapleza union ward no 3, said in the wake of a high tide, the embankments in Khetachhira and Kochubaria villages collapsed which let in water into hundreds of habitats in the villages.

Telikhali Union Parisad member Md Selim said the high tide had submerged vast areas in Bhandaria area under the union as well.

Sub-Divisional Engineer of Pirojpur Water Development Board Md Uzzal Hossain said because of an unusual high tide, the water level had risen in the water bodies. The news of embankment collapse had been conveyed to the higher authorities.

He said repair work could not be started because of lack of funds. l

To improve gas pressure in the national grid, one of the four compressors of Ashuganj Gas Compressor Station began tentative operation yesterday.

Abdul Momen, deputy general manager of the station, said the compressor was run from around 11:30am and it will continue for the next 72 hours without a break to observe the situation.

Sources said 100 PSI pressure is needed for smooth gas supply and to ensure it, the government has installed the compressors at a cost of Tk900 crore. l

7 Malaysiabound passengers rescued n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

Police rescued seven Malaysia-bound passengers and seized the two CNG-run auto-rickshaws on which they were being transported from Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.

On being tipped off, Ukhiya police station Sub-Inspector Nazrul led a drive around 9:30pm from Officepara area of Jaliyapalang union of the upazila and rescued the passengers. He said the main culprits were Nurul Kabir and his wife Rizia Begum, who managed to escape during the drive. l

Officer-in-charge of Debhata police station Ashraf Hossain said Nazrul’s body was handed over to his family.

On Wednesday night, Nazrul went into India by crossing Haraddaha border to bring cows. Two days later on Friday, BSF officials of the Taki camp recovered his body from Ichamati river.

The body was kept at Basirhat morgue in India before the handover on Sunday.

Subedar Sirajul Islam, BGB company commander of Townsreepur, said Nazrul did not die when he went to India to bring cows.

He actually drowned when he went to fish in the river, said Sirajul. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Two killed in road accidents n Tribune Report Two persons were killed in road accidents in Gopalganj and Dhaka yesterday.

In Gopalganj, a motorcyclist was killed when a truck ran over him at Nayakandi village in the district.

Police said Al Amin Sheikh,28, son of Yunus Sheikh was crossing the road oh his motorcycle with his two friend.

Suddenly a truck coming from opposite direction ran over the bike leaving Al Amin dead on the spot and two others injured. In Savar, a madrasa student was killed in an accident in Mulimpara .

A three wheeler ran over Ria Moni, 9, daughter of Ramjan Ali while she was going home from the madrasa. She died on the spot. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

7

A boon misunderstood Recognising the contribution and potential of the RMG sector in Bangladesh

O

n Chowdhury Abd-Allah Quaseed ut of about 200 nations of the world, it is not a matter to be scoffed at, that Bangladesh has secured its position between the 40th and 50th, in terms of the size of the economy, consistently over the last few years. And this is only using financial data which is legally disclosed.

The ranking of Bangladesh would possibly be higher if all the undeclared wealth of the nation would be tallied as well. So Bangladesh is really not as downtrodden as it may appear to many. In fact it is now well recognized as an upcoming place for growth and opportunities.

And one of the main reasons that Bangladesh has been able to attain this status is because of the ready-made garments sector that is flourishing in the country since the early 1980s and because of all the positive changes it has triggered off as a chain reaction across the nation in terms of economy as well as social development.

In 2006, the RMG sector of Bangladesh had been able to export about $8bn worth of products across the world, which at that time was considered to be a great feat. Today, less than eight years later, the industry’s exports have reached about $26bn annually, which is an almost 300% growth from the 2006 baseline.

There are almost 4,000 active factories belonging to about 1,500 holding companies, employing from a few hundred people to over 15,000 in a single factory. The total employment generated by the sector is a staggering 5.5 million, inclusive of all staff and management as well.

The number would leap up by a further couple of million, if we include the textile factories and trims and accessories manufacturing companies and all the buying, sourcing and liaison offices of apparel brands.

If each employee is considered to be supporting four others in the family, then the number of people depending on the sector for their survival, gets catapulted up to at least 30 million or three crore. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is indeed this industry which forms the backbone of the economy of Bangladesh and it is this sector that supports the creation, growth and prosperity of many other sectors of the country.

Impact on banking sector One of the most direct beneficiaries of the RMG industry is the banking sector. All of these thousands of factories have been built upon loans from the banks which derive more earnings by financing working capital for these companies and also by providing letters of credit and trade financing.

More than two million of the employees and owners and their family members of these garment companies have accounts in the banks, with varying quantities of savings, contributing significantly to the lendable fund reserve of the banks. Many hundred thousands of these employees have taken loans for various purposes and almost a million employees of the RMG sector use credit cards issued by these banks.

All of these directly contribute to the enhanced profitability of the banking sector and of the financial institutes. Thus all the tens of thousands of employees working in all the banks and the hundreds of thousands of their family members are all supported by the RMG sector to a great extent.

Almost 3,000 factories have been constructed in the last eight years

alone, each measuring from a minimum of 20 to 30,000 square feet to up to a million square feet, with the majority of them measuring between 100,000 to 200,000 square feet.

Counting all the factories that came up in the 90s and onwards as well, the total construction work that was required by this sector, does tantamount to a few billion square feet of civil engineering!

The making of all this has generated the boom in the construction industry, and the sale and supply of construction materials, and have provided employment to several million construction workers across the last decade and half. There have been several tens of thousands of architects, interior designers, and engineers from the field of electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, who have worked for these projects.

The specialised requirements of the sector has led to the establishment of dedicated universities focusing on textile and apparel technology based education. This has churned out many tens of thousands of graduates, most of whom have been successfully absorbed into the RMG sector, which has also provided work opportunities to a few hundred thousand BBA and MBA graduates from both public and private universities.

Impact on workers’ income The RMG sector has boosted the general income of the people that work within it and their associated subsectors, resulting in a tremendous boost in the living standards of people across the country and in consumption patterns. Food and groceries of higher grade are now purchased in much greater quantities even in villages, where the family members of the

RAJIB DHAR

wages for helpers to Tk5,300, from December 2013, which accordingly means minimum wages for higher levels of workers reaching up to 8,000 or higher, have now resulted in a situation where there are many workers earning up to even Tk20,000 a month.

The average earning of the worker now, is about Tk12,000 to Tk13,000 per month, which is at par with or even higher in many cases, than the salaries paid to university graduates by local private companies and even some banks.

The RMG industry not given the recognition and credit that is rightfully due to it and all the entrepreneurs and people working in the sector

employees of most of the RMG sector employees reside.

Low priced locally made electronic items ranging from phones to television sets and DVD players have flooded even the rural communities.

People are purchasing healthcare and cosmetic products many times more than before and spending a lot more on entertainment too.

It has to be realised that the earning of the workers in this sector is in fact considerably higher than what people earn in other industries and thus, the furor that is generated by the media and some portions of the intellectual community about the low income of workers in the sector is indeed quite unfounded and baseless. The minimum wage of Tk3,000 that used to prevail was only applicable for helpers and there were higher levels of minimum wages for various designations.

Thus the minimum wage of Tk3,000 was applicable for less than 10% of the workers at the bottom of the hierarchy. Besides, it has to be realised that the workers earn over double of the minimum wage after inclusion of the overtime, the attendance bonus, and some other allowances provided by the factories. Thus, the average earning of workers till 2013 was as high as Tk7,500 to Tk8,000, which was not as low as was misrepresented.

Now, with the increase of minimum

RAJIB DHAR

The rise in this salary level has also set off a domino effect leading to slow and gradual increase of salaries of staff and officers too. Thus, the life of the RMG sector employees, including even the factory workers, is in actuality, considerably better than what the general prevailing impression is.

Impact on foreign investment This is also the sector that has led to the influx of a few billion dollars worth of foreign investment across all the export promotion zones. The sector, which has led to the creation of a large number of power and energy providing companies supplying electricity, has also directly supported the creation of hundreds of thousands of ancillary service providers.

The housing and real estate sector has experienced a major boost since the mid 1990s, in part because of the surge in the RMG sector. Most of the owners and higher level management members of these thousands of companies have purchased apartments or plots of land. This again has benefitted the construction industry and those supplying materials.

This has in general contributed to the rise in property prices, something that was also brought about in the outlying areas by the companies purchasing large tracts of land in villages for the making of factories. Rent has also increased for the low cost homes of the workers and also in the areas where most of the mid and upper management of these companies reside.

Tens of thousands of foreign nationals working in the sector and staying in Dhaka and Chittagong have contributed to many architects leaning more towards international designs and standards, when designing and making residential buildings in areas which are preferred by these foreign nationals, thereby improving the look as well as quality of thousands of apartment buildings.

The transport sector has also experienced a major expansion, directly because of the RMG sector. All the companies operating in the industry owns many vehicles, some up to even 200 vehicles that they use for various commercial and noncommercial purposes, not only including cars and microbuses, but also large passenger buses, trucks and covered vans.

The owners of these garment

companies are also the ones who can afford the purchase and maintenance of the best brands of vehicles in the country. All of this in aggregate supports the companies selling automobiles, the fuel providers, and the workshops and garages. And there are a few hundred companies that have arisen who provide rented vehicles to the RMG companies.

Not only in the realm of logistics, but the RMG sector directly contributes to the bulk of the profits of the clearing and forwarding companies, the shipping sector, the freight forwarders and also the cargo section of the airlines. The RMG sector alone comprises over half of all the cargo that is transported. Thousands of small and medium catering companies are thriving as well, who supply food on a regular basis to the factories.

The TV channels and newspapers, restaurants, clothing stores and boutiques, private clubs, educational institutions, commercial buildings, etc, have almost all been formed by investments acquired from earnings generated by the RMG industry.

Domestic travel and tourism has also been propelled forward greatly due to the expansion of the sector.

Factories have been set up in distant places, leading to the sprouting of numerous resorts and hotels in many districts as well as in remote locations to provide accommodation for those who visit those factories for work purposes, and for them to bring their friends and family members along at times. The growth of the sector has also been one of the main reasons for the sprouting up of over a dozen export processing zones in distant districts, thereby leading to economic advancement of those regions in various ways.

International travel and tourism has been greatly enhanced over the years in Bangladesh because of the RMG sector. There are thousands of international buyers and consultants who are

clothes at low cost. It also provides the livelihood to all those engaged in selling these products.

There is a surprisingly large fabric recycling industry that has arisen in the last decade or so, where scraps of fabrics are taken and converted into thread and new textiles, which are then used for producing new items.

This recycling business generates income for a large population as well.

The RMG sector also supports the existence of numerous NGOs, training organisations, consultants, environmental and infrastructural services providers, and generates the employment for a host of international experts working for various organisations engaged in trying to develop the sector further. Indeed there are more than 100,000 foreign nationals living in the country, who, or the main earning member of whose family, derives their income from working in this sector or directly as an employee of these companies.

There are more than 50,000 people from other SAARC nations, as well as tens of thousands of foreign nationals from China, Korea, Japan, even Turkey and some European countries, all employed by the RMG companies, living in Dhaka and Chittagong and near the export promotion zones.

Indeed, the fact that Bangladesh is now considered one of the leading destinations for high paid jobs for many foreign nationals and that they work under Bangladeshi management and ownership is certainly something about which the country can afford to feel proud of. This has also paved the way for the country’s talented youth to learn important skills and work processes from remaining under the guidance of these international experts. The level of skill and expertise of Bangladesh is being greatly enhanced.

The presence of such a large foreign population in the country, and the exposure to the regular influx of foreigners every day has contributed

Reality of the RMG industry

factories in the export promotion zones, one would feel that the factories provide almost the same environment as a modern corporate office, even for the actual factory workers.

Indeed, the compliance situation is also a lot better than what people perceive it to be. Child labour is almost non-existent, as are practices such as salary non payment or discriminative salary setting etc. The strict monitoring by the foreign brands placing orders has helped a long way in ensuring the upkeep of social compliance standards.

The increase in awareness about safety related to electrical, fire, and structural aspects, and all the development work taking place in these fields, greatly spearheaded by the Accord and Alliance of foreign apparel brands, is paving the way for even safer factories.

In fact there are more fire doors, sprinklers, fire fighting equipment and environmental consciousness woven into more of these factories than is present in even many of the smartest offices, hotels, and commercial buildings and residences. People are safer in the garments factories than in their homes and in other buildings. But that is a fact that few realise.

One also has to take into consideration the reality that the profitability of the industry is indeed quite low, hardly exceeding 7% or 8% of the total revenue. This can also get depleted very easily due to air shipments caused by production delays, and by factories remaining closed out of schedule only for a few days in a year.

Thus, the allegations made about the industry not providing even more than what it does, for its employees, despite such high earning, is also not entirely as valid a remark as many think.

These are some of the many negative rumours that prevail about the industry, due to the fact that not too many people get to know about the industry and its magnitude and the extent of its contributions. This is because of the fact that there is very little advertising or public relations work done by companies in this sector, as their products are for export and not for local consumption.

However, the time has come to invest in image building.

Thus, I would lament that indeed the RMG sector is unfortunate, for it continues to bear calumny and ignominy which is undeserved. It is not given the recognition and credit that is rightfully due to it and all the entrepreneurs and people working in the sector.

And it really is time now, for the overall society of Bangladesh to understand how all of their lives are dependent upon the success of the RMG sector, and it is time to recognise the potential the sector has for shaping Bangladesh into a developed nation.

To that end, I would recommend strongly, that the entrepreneurs engaged in the sector, and the associations such as BGMEA, begin to invest a lot more of their time, resources and energy in building up the positive image of the industry among the people of the nation. l

Despite a lot of fallacies, the reality is that the garments factories provide much healthier and ergonomically advanced working conditions to workers than in most other kinds of industries.

If we consider the new factories that have come up in the last few years and especially the hundreds of massive

Chowdhury Abd-Allah Quaseed is the Director of HR & Compliance in a leading group of RMG manufacturing group of companies, and the maker and facilitator of a number of development focused TV programs and the founder of Force of Tomorrow, a non-political advocacy forum for better governance.

Despite a lot of fallacies, the reality is that the garments factories provide much healthier and ergonomically advanced working conditions to workers than in most other kinds of industries travelling to Bangladesh on any given day, and it is to support this influx of business related visitors that hundreds of small hotels and guest houses have arisen all over the city.

All of these small hotels and guest houses remain fully occupied, which is also the case with the major hotels.

Thus the boom in the hotel industry is a derivation of the RMG sector. Work related to marketing and training in this sector, has also greatly increased the travel of people from Bangladesh to other countries. The high income of the employees has encouraged more personal trips to other countries as well, helping to make the travel agencies burgeon into a booming industry.

There are tens of thousands of small and medium clothing stores across the country which sell the slightly defective, rejected or excess produced items taken from all the factories at very low prices, directly enabling millions of people in the country to buy and have excellent quality of

significantly to cultural advancement of the country as well. People have slowly become a lot less xenophobic, and there is a much better level of cross cultural understanding and trust. Many foreigners from all over the world are having a far clearer idea about what Bangladesh is, and is learning to view the country and its people with respect, and not just as a developing nation in need of aid all the time, or a country of fanatics breeding potential terrorists.

So the sector is helping in bridging the cultural divide as well and making the country more globalised.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

D AY 7 : I S R A E L I M I L I TA R Y C A M PA I G N I N G A Z A 1

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(1) An Israeli Merkava tank rolls at an army deployment along the Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip on July 14, 2014. Israel kept up its punishing raids on Gaza. (2) A Palestinian boy walks amongst the rubble of a house which police said was destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Deir El-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. (3) Four-year-old Palestinian girl Shayma Al-Masri, who was wounded in an Israeli air strike that killed her mother and two of her siblings, lies on a bed next to her doll as she receives treatment at a hospital in Gaza City. (4) Relatives mourn during the funeral of four members of the Moamer family, including a 26-year-old militant of the Hamas movement, after they were killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah REUTERS/AFP

Pressure for ceasefire grows in week-old Gaza war n Reuters, Gaza/Jerusalem Israel held back yesterday from a threatened escalation of attacks on the northern Gaza Strip and no Palestinian rockets streaked towards Tel Aviv, but elsewhere fighting continued unabated despite growing pressure for a ceasefire.

The military said it had shot down a drone from Gaza, the first reported deployment of an unmanned aircraft by Palestinian militants whose rocket attacks have been regularly intercepted.

The use of a drone would mark a step up in the sophistication of the Palestinian arsenal, although it was not immediately clear whether it was armed.

Around half a dozen Israelis have been wounded since the start of the week-old offensive, which Gaza health officials say has killed 169 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

International calls for a ceasefire have grown as the death toll has mounted in the worst flare-up of Israe-

li-Palestinian violence for almost two years, sparked by the murder of three Israeli teenagers and revenge killing of a Palestinian youth.

Israel has arrested three people, two of them minors, over the Palestinian’s murder and officials said on Monday they had confessed to burning him alive.

The European Union said on Monday it was in touch with «all parties in the region” to press for an immediate halt to the hostilities, a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry offered to help secure a Gaza truce.

Egypt and Qatar were also involved but peace efforts were complicated

by Hamas’s rejection of a mere “calm for calm” in which both sides hold their fire in favour of wider conditions including prisoner release and an end to Israel’s Gaza blockade.

The Israeli army said its aircraft and naval gunboats attacked dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and that Palestinian militants fired more than 20 rockets

Saharan skeletons may be evidence of the first race war, 13,000 years ago n Tribune Desk Scientists are investigating what may be the oldest identified race war 13,000 years after it raged on the fringes of the Sahara, The Independent said.

French scientists working in collaboration with the British Museum have been examining dozens of skeletons, a majority of whom appear to have been killed by archers using flint-tipped arrows.

The bones – from Jebel Sahaba on the east bank of the Nile in northern Sudan – are from victims of the world’s oldest known relatively large-scale human armed conflict. Over the past two years anthropologists from Bordeaux University have discovered literally dozens of previously undetected arrow impact marks and flint arrow head fragments on and around the bones of the victims.

This is in addition to many arrow heads and impact marks already found embedded in some of the bones during an earlier examination of the skeletons back in the 1960s. The remains – the contents of an entire early cemetery – were found in 1964 by the prominent American archaeologist, Fred Wendorf, but, until the current investigations, had never been examined using more modern, 21 century, technology.

Some of the skeletal material has just gone on permanent display as part of the British Museum’s new Early Egypt gallery which opens officially today. The bones – from Jebel Sahaba on the east bank of the

River Nile in northern Sudan – are from victims of the world’s oldest known relatively large-scale human armed conflict.

Now British Museum scientists are planning to learn more about the victims themselves – everything from gender to disease and from diet to age at death. The discovery of dozens of previously undetected arrow impact marks and flint arrow fragments suggests that the majority of the individuals – men, women and children – in the Jebel Sahaba cemetery were killed by enemy archers, and then buried by their own people. What’s more, the new research demonstrates that the attacks – in effect a prolonged low-level war – took place over many months or years. l

into Israel, slightly wounding a boy in the town of Ashdod, where a home was damaged. Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people in Gaza were wounded.

But Israel did not carry out a threat to step up attacks against rocket-launching sites it said were hidden among civilian homes in the town of Beit Lahuiya after urging residents there to leave.

A UN aid agency said around a quarter of the town›s 70,000 residents had fled.

And as of the late afternoon, no sirens had sounded in the densely-populated Tel Aviv area, a daily target of rocket attacks.

‘Special missions’

Hamas, the Islamist group which runs Gaza, said its armed wing had sent several locally-made drones to carry out “special missions” deep inside Israel. A military spokesman said the drone was intercepted near the port of Ashdod by a US-built Patriot missile, used largely ineffectively by Israel against

Iraqi Scud missiles in the 1991 Gulf War. The force was trying to locate debris in the area about 25 km (15 miles) north of Gaza, and determine whether it had carried explosives.

“Hamas is trying for an achievement at any price,” Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, referring to the drone, said in a statement. “We will continue to pummel Hamas and other terrorist organisations until the safety of Israeli citizens is ensured.”

An Egyptian-brokered truce doused the last big Gaza flare-up in 2012, and UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon told Egyptian President Abel Fattah al-Sisi in a phone call that his country is the most credible party capable of persuading both sides to stand down, an official Egyptian statement said.

But Cairo’s government is at odds with Islamist Hamas, complicating a mediation bid with the group, an offshoot of the now-outlawed Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. l

Moscow ‘considers targeted strikes’ on Ukraine in retaliation n AFP, Moscow Moscow is considering targeted strikes against Ukraine after a shell reportedly crossed the border and killed a Russian civilian, the Kommersant daily reported yesterday, citing a source close to the Kremlin.

The respected daily quoted a source as saying that Moscow was considering the possibility of “targeted retaliatory strikes” against Ukraine, where escalating clashes between pro-Moscow rebels and government troops threatened to spiral into an all-out civil war over the weekend. “Our patience is not limitless,” the source was quoted as saying, adding that Russia “knows exactly where they (Ukrainians) are firing from.”

The source said that Russia was not considering any large-scale action, but only targeted one-off strikes on positions from which fire is

Spy flap frays CIA, White House ties n Agencies

Germany’s dramatic decision to expel the top US intelligence official in Berlin has put fresh strain on the frequently fraught relationship between American spies and the policymakers who rely on – and sometimes clash with – the nation’s cloak-and-dagger operatives.

The transatlantic feud comes amid a bleak six-month stretch of international crises that appear to have caught the United States flat-footed as well as at a time of skirmishes between the White House and some of the intelligence community’s career operatives.

US intelligence agencies have never been strangers to ugly controversies, from attempts to assassinate Cuba’s Fidel Castro, to the use of interrogation practices that meet international defini-

tions of torture, or the case for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They have also faced charges of incompetence, like the failure to predict the fall of the Soviet Union.

By those historical standards, 2014 hasn’t been a disaster. But the often testy relationship between spies and politicians is definitely going through a bad patch – and it may only get worse.

The last half-year has featured the shocking rampage of an al-Qaida offshoot, the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL), in Syria and Iraq, Russia’s dramatic annexation of Crimea, the White House’s accidental but headline-grabbing outing of the CIA station chief in Afghanistan, and an unprecedented war of words in which one of the agency’s most reliable congressional champions, Senator Dianne Feinstein, accused it of spying on legislative staff.

Not everyone agrees that the relationship is passing through an unusually difficult period. Senator Saxby Chambliss, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised CIA Director John Brennan.

“I think John is working hard to make sure our intelligence community functions in a way that the White House and policymakers want to see it work,” Chambliss said. “You have bumps in the road in any organization and John’s trying to smooth those out.”

The latest news out of Germany has roots in the stunning disclosures from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. Already, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had openly expressed anger upon learning that US intelligence eavesdropped on her cell phone calls. l

Snowden condemns UK surveillance bill n The Guardian The NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has condemned the new surveillance bill being pushed through the UK’s parliament this week, expressing concern about the speed at which it is being done, lack of public debate, fear-mongering and what he described as increased powers of intrusion.

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian in Moscow, Snowden said it was very unusual for a public body to pass an emergency law such as this in circumstances other than a time of total war. “I mean we don’t have bombs falling. We don’t have U-boats in the harbour.”

Suddenly it is a priority, he said, after the government had ignored it for an entire year. “It defies belief.”

He found the urgency with which the British government was moving extraordinary and said it mirrored a similar move in the US in 2007 when the Bush administration was forced to introduce legislation, the Protect America Act, citing the same concerns about terrorist threats and the NSA losing cooperation from telecom and internet companies.

“I mean the NSA could have written this draft,” he said. “They passed it under the same sort of emergency justification. They said we would be at risk. They said companies will no

longer cooperate with us. We’re losing valuable intelligence that puts the nation at risk.”

His comments chime with British civil liberties groups who, having had time to read the small print, are growing increasingly sceptical about government claims last week that the bill is a stop-gap that will not increase the powers of the surveillance agencies.

David Cameron, searching for cross-party support, assured the Liberal Democrats and Labour that there would be no extension of the powers. But internal Home Office papers seen by the Guardian appear to confirm that there would be an expansion of powers. l

directed at Russian territory.

Moscow said Sunday that a Ukrainian shell had landed in Russia and killed a civilian, prompting the Russian foreign ministry to say that the incident was “another act of aggression” that could have “irreversible consequences.”

Ukraine denied the claim, saying that government forces “had never before, are not now, and never will fire on the territory of a neighbouring state.”

Several shells landed early Sunday in the small Russian border town of Donetsk, which has the same name as rebels’ stronghold city in eastern Ukraine, killing one resident and wounding two.

The deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, Yevgeny Bushmin, said Sunday: “We need to use targeted weapons, like Israel does among others, to destroy those who launched this mine.” l

NEWS BITES

Costa Concordia wreck floats for first time

n Agencies

A salvage operation has successfully raised the wreck of the ill-fated Costa Concordia more than two years after it sank off the Italian island of Giglio. The high-risk operation has raised the rusting hulk of the 114,500-tonne vessel, which will now begin its final journey to the shipyard where it was built.

The operation to salvage the 290-metre long ship’s wreck was unprecedented in its scale. The Costa Concordia was rotated upright in September and was sitting on an underwater platform. The disaster in January 2012 left 32 people dead, with one body still left unfound. l

Cypriots file war crimes complaint against Turkey

n AP, Nicosia, Cyprus

A group of Cypriots has filed a war crimes complaint against Turkey at the International Criminal Court over what they say is its policy of settling Cyprus’ breakaway north with mainland Turks.

Cyprus split into a Turkish-speaking north and an internationally recognized Greek-speaking south in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup that aimed to unite the island with Greece. A Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops there. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thai junta’s pledge to send back Myanmar refugees sparks concern

About 120,000 refugees live in 10 camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border “We are not at the stage where we grant workers sparked the departure of tion,” said the aid worker, who asked n Reuters, Bangkok will deport people because we must more than 200,000 Cambodians, a key not to be identified because of the senThailand’s military government said yesterday it would send home 100,000 refugees who have been living in camps for two decades and more along the border with Myanmar, a move rights groups say would create chaos at a tense time for both nations.

Thailand’s military overthrew the remnants of an elected government in May after months of sometimes violent street protests. Its National Council for Peace and Order has rolled out a raft of tough measures it says are needed to restore order and has promised a return to democracy next year.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is emerging from nearly five decades of isolation under repressive military rule. Its nominally civilian government has talked about repatriating the refugees, but non-governmental organisations say they are concerned by a lack of infrastructure to help returnees rebuild their lives.

first verify the nationality of those in the camps,” army deputy spokesman Veerachon Sukhontapatipak told Reuters.

Without any legal status or marketable skills, the refugees have long been seen as a burden by the Thai state “Once that is done we will find ways to send them back. There are around 100,000 people who have been living in the camps for many years without freedom. Thailand and Myanmar will help facilitate their smooth return.”

Last month, comments made by a junta spokeswoman threatening to arrest and deport undocumented mi-

component of the workforce in fishing, construction and other sectors.

Thailand scrambled to reverse that exodus by opening service centres to help migrant workers secure work permits. There are also an estimated 2 million Burmese migrant workers, the largest contingent of such labourers in the country. But without any legal status or marketable skills, the refugees have long been seen as a burden by the Thai state.

An estimated 120,000 Burmese refugees live in 10 camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border, according to The Border Consortium, which coordinates NGO activity in the camps.

Military pressing for repatriation

An aid worker who has been helping the refugees said the Thai army appeared serious about its repatriation push. “The authorities said this time they are going to be very strict. It seems like they’re really pushing for repatria-

sitive nature of the issue.

“The situation in the camps is very tense because people don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The refugees fear economic and logistical difficulties in returning as well as sporadic fighting in parts of north and northeast Myanmar.

In his weekly televised speech last Friday, junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha said Myanmar and Thailand would oversee a smooth return home of refugees.

“Thailand and Myanmar will facilitate the safe return to their homeland in accordance with human rights principles,” he said.

But rights groups say a lack of transparency surrounds any plan to send refugees back.

“When Prayuth spoke on Friday he left out what the conditions for the return would be,” Sunai Phasuk of Human Rights Watch told Reuters. l

China begins criminal probe into three former top officials

Japan’s Abe wants to hold summit with China at APEC

Chinese authorities have begun criminal investigations into three former high-ranking officials over corruption allegations, state media said yesterday, two of whom were allies of powerful, retired domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang.

Sources have told Reuters that Zhou has been put under virtual house arrest while the ruling Communist Party investigates him for graft, though the party has made no announcement about his case.

Several of Zhou’s political allies have been held in custody and questioned over corruption, including former Vice Minister of Public Security Li Dongsheng and Jiang Jiemin, who was the top regulator of state-owned enterprises for five months until last September.

The official Xinhua news agency said criminal investigations had been opened into Li and Jiang, along with another official, Wang Yongchun, who was a vice president of China’s biggest oil company, China National Petroleum Corporation, the parent of PetroChina .

Xinhua provided no other details other than that all three were in custody.

As the wheels of Chinese justice can turn slowly their trials may be a long way off.

President Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping crackdown on deep-rooted graft since taking office last year, warning, like many before him, the problem was so severe it could affect the party’s ability to rule. l

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday he wanted to hold a summit with China at the APEC leaders meeting in Beijing in November to improve relations strained by territorial and security issues, but drew a cool response from China.

Abe has been in office since late 2012 and has yet to meet Chinese leaders, despite worsening ties over disputed islands in the East China Sea, China’s declaration of an air defence identification zone in the area and Abe’s visits to a Tokyo shrine seen as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism.

“It is a great pity that we have not been able to have a leaders’ summit,” Abe told a parliamentary committee.

“We need to return to the basics of a strategic relationship of mutual respect. I would like to have a summit in Beijing this November at the time of the APEC meeting,” he said, referring to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum annual summit.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it had expressed its view on the issue many times already, though stopped short of outright rejecting the request.

“The Japanese side should take real steps and work hard to banish the political obstacles which affect the development of bilateral ties,” it said.

Japan has been locked in a territorial dispute with China over a group of East China Sea islets, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Ships from both countries frequently shadow each other around the islands, raising fears of a clash. l

n Reuters, Beijing

n Reuters, Tokyo

Malala in Nigeria: Bring back our girls n AP, Abuja

Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai is celebrating her 17th birthday in Nigeria with promises to work for the release of some 219 schoolgirls who have been held

by Islamic extremists for three months.

“My birthday wish this year is ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ now and alive,” she said, using the social media slogan that has been picked up around the world to demand freedom for the girls kidnapped from a school in the remote northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok before dawn on April 15.

Malala, who escaped a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012, met President Goodluck Jonathan later Monday.

Jonathan has not met with any of the kidnapped girls’ parents, nor with Nigerian activists who started the worldwide movement.

He has drawn international condemnation for his government’s failure to quickly rescue the students. In May, Jonathan canceled a planned trip to Chibok. And soldiers and police prevented activists from marching to his presidential village in Abuja, the capital, to give him written demands the same month.

Malala met in Abuja with some parents of the kidnapped girls and some of the dozens of girls and young women who escaped the abduction. All have been begging Jonathan to negotiate with Boko Haram extremists. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau put out a new video this week in which he repeated his demands that the government release scores of detained insurgents in exchange for the girls’ freedom.

“Nigerians are saying ‘Bring Back Our Girls,’ and we are telling Jonathan to bring back our arrested warriors, our army,” he said. l

Eight tech titans who won’t leave their fortune to their kids n Tribune Desk

Some entrepreneurs who have made billions off of their tech ventures like to spend them in some pretty extravagant ways, whether it be on private planes, summer homes, or even an entire island.

Others turn to more-philanthropic efforts, choosing to donate their wealth to different causes through foundations and trusts.

But there are some generous people in tech who have decided to donate large portions of their wealth to charity rather than pass it down to their children.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates Bill Gates has been open about his decision not to leave his $78bn fortune to his three children. They will reportedly inherit just a small slice, about $10m each.

“I definitely think leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favour to them,” he said in a Reddit AMA in February.

He founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 1994, and it currently has more than $36bn in assets. Gates also teamed up with longtime friend Warren Buffett to start a campaign called “The Giving Pledge,” which encourages other billionaires to donate at least half of their fortune to charity.

AOL co-founder Steve Case Steve Case helped millions of Americans get online, and now he is donating much of his wealth to developing other technologies.

He founded the Case Foundation in 1997, which focuses on using technology to make philanthropy more effective. He also started an investment firm called Revolution, which invests in startups outside of Silicon Valley, and signed the Giving Pledge.

“We share the view that those to whom much is given, much is expected.

We realize we have been given a unique platform and opportunity, and we are committed to doing the best we can with it,” he and wife Jean wrote. “We do not believe our assets are ours but rather we try to be the responsible stewards of these resources.”

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff Marc Benioff recently launched a campaign called SF Gives, which challenged tech companies to raise $10m for San Francisco-based nonprofit programmes in just 60 days.

He has encouraged other corporations to follow his 1/1/1 model, which says that a company should donate 1% of its equity, 1% of its employees time, and 1% of its resources to philanthropic efforts.

He and wife Lynne have also personally given a total of $200m to the children’s hospital at UCSF.

Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs Together with wife Joan, Irwin Jacobs has given away some $500m of his fortune to charitable causes that include the Cornell Tech Roosevelt Island campus, MIT fellowships, and the San Diego Symphony.

He has also signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of

The smuggled stone that was once more precious than gold

n Alex Preston, BBC Myanmar, also known as Burma, is one of the world’s largest Jade producers but with trade bound by international sanctions, many of the precious gemstones are smuggled out of the country.

At first, I think it’s a waterfall. A wave of liquid sound comes towards me over the brackish waters of the Irrawaddy River.

As I get closer, crossing a bridge beside a flock of orange-robed monks, the wash of noise becomes louder, more crystalline. I’m in Mandalay, northern Myanmar, a bustling city of a million people, and the sound is the clack

and rattle of hundreds of thousands of precious stones in the world’s largest jade market.

I approach the market’s entrance past workshops where teenage boys, cigarettes drooping from their lips, carve raw lumps of jade on viciously spinning wheels.

The market itself is a vast and baffling warren, row after row of traders with their iridescent stones laid out on white trays.

At least half the traders are Chinese, and the voices that ring out over the clatter of sorting stones mix Mandarin and Burmese as they vie for business.

Estimates place the value of Myan-

mar’s jade trade at more than $8bn (£4.7bn) a year. Most of the jade goes to China, whose presence in Myanmar has been growing at a precipitous rate since the end of the military dictatorship in 2011.

As I walk along one of the market’s narrow alleys, side-stepping a slushy pile of betel nut pith, I see a Chinese trader, a woman in an embroidered skirt and Elton John T-shirt, fix a loupe to her eye to inspect a small pile of luminous green stones.

She’s haggling with a young man.

We’ll call him Breng Mai, a pseudonym for reasons which will become clear.

He’s from Kachin State, the semi-au-

9

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

tonomous region in the far north of the country.

The story of Burmese jade is inextricably tied to the turbulent history of Kachin, a once-lush country of rolling hills and steep ravines that rubs borders with India’s lawless Nagaland.

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fought a long and bloody war against the Burmese government, with an official ceasefire declared in 1994, but tensions and outbreaks of violence persist, with Myanmar’s security services asserting a heavy presence in the area.

While the roadblocks and curfews may help keep the uneasy peace, they also ensure the government maintains

control over the jade business.

Later I meet Breng Mai in his aunt’s grocery store in downtown Mandalay. He’s 23, absurdly handsome with a voguish blonde streak in his spiked hair. He’s wearing a KIA T-shirt. The shop is bare and dingy, a single bulb hanging from the roof.

On the dusty counter are eggs, toothpaste, joss sticks and prawn crackers. Breng Mai leads me down a corridor, through a curtained doorway and into a back room, the centre of his smuggling empire.

It’s like the planet Krypton, great mounds of jade dimly glowing.

“It is all chinjalu,” he tells me, a Kachin word for jade of the highest clarity and quality - known elsewhere as “imperial jade.” The shop is a front, run by his aunt as a warehouse for Breng Mai’s illicit operations.

Sipping tea by the piles of precious stones, Breng Mai tells me he went into the jade mines aged 15.

“Although some working there were as young as eight,” he says, “it was dangerous. There were regular avalanches. In one, our whole camp was swept away. I damaged my legs but my best friend was killed.”

To trade legally, jade miners have to pay a tax to the government.

“Smuggling makes my profits much higher,” Breng Mai says.

“I drive a beer truck from Hpakan to Mandalay every few weeks. The barrels in the middle of the van are full of jade.

The government carries out raids every so often, but so far I’ve been lucky,” he adds. l

the billions he made with the electronics firm he founded. Though his son, Paul, now serves as CEO of Qualcomm, his 1.5m shares are no comparison to his fathers 26m shares.

EBay founder Pierre Omidyar Ebay Omidyar and wife Pam are some of the most generous people in tech, having given away more than $1bn of the vast fortune they made when eBay went public in 1998.

They signed the Giving Pledge in 2010.

“In 2001, I publicly stated that we intend to give away the vast majority of our wealth during our lifetime,” the couple said in their pledge letter. “Our view is fairly simple. We have more money than our family will ever need. There’s no need to hold onto it when it can be put to use today, to help solve some of the world’s most intractable problems.”

They have also donated eBay shares to the Omidyar Network, their philanthropic investment firm, and are the single biggest private donors in the fight against human trafficking.

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore Gordon Moore has given away more than $1bn to charitable causes, donating about half of his wealth to create the Moore Foundation in 2001.

The foundation, which focuses on issues of environmental conservation, health measures, and the San Francisco community, currently has more than $5bn in assets.

He and wife Betty signed Gates Giving Pledge in 2012.

“We are pleased to be a part of the Giving Pledge not only because we are able to commit these funds, but because we believe they can lead to real learning and measurable change,” they said.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Elon Musk may have five young boys from his first marriage — one set of twins and one set of triplets — but he has already donated much of his fortune to renewable energy, science and engineering education, and pediatric health.

He signed the Giving Pledge in 2012, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. He receives only $1 a year for his work with Tesla.

Google CEO Larry Page Google CEO Larry Page, on the other hand, has a somewhat unique idea for what he would like to happen to his wealth.

In March, he told Charlie Rose that instead of giving his billions to his two children, he would rather give it to entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, who are coming up with big ideas to change the world. “(Musk) wants to go to Mars. That’s a worthy goal,” he said. “We have a lot of employees at Google who’ve become pretty wealthy. You’re working because you want to change the world and make it better; if the company you work for is worthy of your time, why not your money as well? We just don’t think about that. I’d like for us to help out more than we are.” l

Philippine president’s approval down on doubt over corruption effort

n Reuters, Manila Philippine President Benigno Aquino’s performance ratings have plunged to their lowest ever, two independent pollsters said yesterday, as a perception grew that he is not serious enough in efforts to fight corruption.

Aquino, the son of an assassinated opponent of dictatorship and his wife, a democracy hero and former president, won the presidency in 2010 on a promise of good governance and fighting graft but has struggled to rid the country of its image as the most corrupt in Asia.

A survey by independent pollster Pulse Asia, taken last month, showed Aquino’s approval rating dropped from 70% in March to 56%. His trust rating also fell from 69% to 53% in the same period.

Another survey, by Social Weather Stations, also done last month, showed Aquino’s net satisfaction ratings dropped to 25% from 45% in March, the lowest in four years. His highest was 67% in August 2012.

Aquino is ineligible for re-election under the constitution but the prospects for his Liberal Party’s candidate are likely to be damaged if his popularity is undermined in the run-up to a 2016 presidential election.

“This is the largest decline in both approval and trust and it’s also his lowest performance thus far,” Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia research director, said. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Clothing the world

E

xports of Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) products to non-traditional markets rose by a respectable 21% during the fiscal year of 2013-14, with countries such as Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey importing more and more of our RMG products. This is exceptional news for a sector of our country which cannot claim to have had a stable business climate recently.

While our RMG sector’s export roots are still planted fairly firmly in the United States and Europe, it is encouraging to see its market expand to the more exotic parts of the latter and the steadily burgeoning continents of South America, Africa, and of course our own Asia.

This welcome growth was made possible through concerted efforts by both the government and the private sector, which again proves itself instrumental in advancing the country’s development, towards diversifying our RMG products and reducing dependency on the bigger, more traditional destinations.

However, we cannot interpret this one pleasant turn of events as a signal for complacency, treating it instead like a beacon of inspiration. There is no reason for that number to not be 35% or even 75%. More can, and needs, to be done. With the right amount of collaborative effort, we can easily have the image of our country’s RMG sector experience a drastic, positive turnaround.

This welcome growth was made possible through concerted efforts by both the government and the private sector

The greatest show on earth

T

he 2014 World Cup has come to a close, and thus ends the month-long extravaganza that transfixed Bangladeshis in every town, village, and hamlet, the length and breadth of the country.

Many hearts were warmed by the story of Amjad – a villager from Magura, who, after being treated successfully with German medicine, become a dedicated fan of the German football team.

In a touching show of support, he sold some of his land to sponsor the creation of a 3.5km-long German flag – probably the longest fan flag in the world.

Amjad will be happy today after Germany’s well-deserved fourth World Cup championship win, as will countless others in cities and villages who have passionately and unwaveringly cheered on a team from a country they have never even had the privilege to visit. The same applies to the supporters of all losing teams. These loyal fans hoist flags of foreign countries onto their rooftops and cheer for them heart and soul every four years, and ask for nothing in return from those countries.

These acts of selfless support speak well of Bangladesh, and show a generosity of spirit that we can be proud of. The World Cup brings out the best in Bangladeshis by giving us a chance to want something without worrying about any direct personal gain.

We look forward to the next tournament four years from now, secure in the knowledge that even if Bangladesh is not represented on the playing field, that we will be a part of the extravaganza, and that the World Cup spirit will continue to burn in our hearts.

These acts of selfless support speak well of Bangladesh, and show a generosity of spirit

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

In a selfish state July 12

nds What the author has said here is nothing new.

We have seen and heard this sort of discussion at least a million times. Does anybody that matters pay any heed to this? Does the author think that his sermon, however well intended, will have a milligram of impact on our society, and, for that matter, any society in this round world? Better stop this harangue and do what everyone is doing.

Someone This is quite a rambling, resentful, even romantic, rant. It’s clear to me that the author and I stand on somewhat disparate grounds on this issue.

There is little disputing that plenty is dreadfully wrong in the world. But blanket scapegoating of free markets, big business, individualistic societies, etc just doesn’t cut it in the real world among rational people. For one, there is nothing intrinsically evil about “selfishness” in private or public life. I have always considered selfishness, ie the paramount pursuit of one’s own goals and interests – not at the expense of, or by causing deliberate harm to others, but as a

rational, positive, moral approach to lead one’s life – arguably the highest virtue possible. The semantics and true meaning of selfishness have been copiously corrupted by exactly the sort of people who are responsible for the pervasive intellectual chaos and moral degradation so many of us see and bemoan.

I don’t endorse the author’s extolling altruism, his lamentations of the erosion of the “welfare state,” or his faddish, wholesale denunciations of capitalism. If he’s thinking “crony capitalism,” I have to assure him that is hardly the reigning species of capitalism in the world. The predictable sneering at “profit-making” and “personal gains” smacks of leftist hubris and hypocrisies. The author’s cluster of complaints here merits a more thorough dissenting response.

At any rate, I’d say this: the “courage to think freely and act independently” is far more at home in free, capitalist, individualistic societies than in the statist, collectivist, and conformist society that the author ostensibly loves best. And gosh, I don’t even want to start on the part about needing “pious souls” in government. Or am I being overly cynical? :)

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 13 represents C so fill C every time the figure 13 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Don’t be blue

July 10 AM Thank you for the mention of the use of the word “rape.” As much as people tell you, “Take a chill pill, it’s just a word,” trivialising words like these makes it that much harder for a crime that already battles with being recognised.

I am not a terrible guy July 11

Moon: Gaza situation on knife-edge July 10

SD Hamas should try to understand that throwing stones at a mountain is a self-perilous game. They should refrain from doing so for the betterment of their innocent people.

Joy: Go to Talpatti and hold protest there July 11

Indigo But the PM gave Talpatti away to India, without even making a note of dissent. So, Talpatti, or what remains of a submerged Talpatti, belongs to India, and now Joy is suggesting we go to Talpatti to protest?!

Strange suggestion indeed!

Death toll in Gaza reaches 100 July 11

Kmak Seems hypocritical of Egypt, considering the recent death sentences of over 100 Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

Ronnie Enjoyable read; true story. :) I couldn’t agree more that the Argentina vs Netherland semi-final was a wretchedly dreary game. I was bored to distraction in making it through the game for 120 minutes, before the shoot-out. Argentina, as in the game against the Belgians, was blatantly negative, throughout. The team had only two genuine scoring opportunities in two hours, were clearly playing for penalties, and it paid off for them. I can guarantee that Argentina will attempt to pull off an encore against Germany in the final.

I honestly find the current Argentine team, and their current form, extremely ordinary. If they win the title on Sunday (I’m betting my bottom dime they won’t), I’d say this will be, arguably, the most mediocre side to win the World Cup since Italy in 1982. The Dutch, for all their offensive flair in their previous matches, were absolutely woeful in attack.

It’s hard to imagine they even believed they could win the game. It sure didn’t look to me they could.

Both teams were almost totally focused on not conceding, and credit to the Argentina goalkeeper for saving two in the shoot-out, and seeing his side through to the championship game. Van Gaal (a coach I really like) is reported to have said Netherlands didn’t really “lose” the game against Argentina (presumably because it went to penalties). It begs the question if his side “won” the game against Costa Rica, then. Anyway, as a committed Germany fan, I’m counting on celebrating on Sunday, and consoling all the Argentina fans I know in this city.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Skin eruption (4) 5 Draws with force (5) 9 Deprive of cover (6) 10 Jurisprudence (3) 11 Close up (4) 12 Corkwood (5) 14 Of the kidneys (5) 16 Article (4) 19 Of sound mind (4) 21 Nuisances (5) 24 Precipitous (5) 27 Tear (4) 29 Pull along (3) 30 Accustomed (6) 31 Harsh (5) 32 Facial features (4)

DOWN

1 Remainder (4) 2 Tool (3) 3 Glittering particles (6) 4 Cavity (4) 5 Discussions (7) 6 Everyone (3) 7 Fuel (3) 8 Graceful birds (5) 13 Beverage (3) 15 Skittle (7) 17 Wretchedness (6) 18 Corrodes (5) 20 Monkey (3) 22 Faithful (4) 23 Probability (4) 25 Small child (3) 26 Female sheep (3) 28 Born (3)

CALVIN AND HOBBES Ramadan economics July 10

Ekram Kabir “Ramadanomics” would have been a better headline.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Osmania If increased demand increases prices, then we clearly eat more during Ramadan.

Doesn’t this defeat the point?

CROSSWORD BNP: Govt reinstates wholesale arrest PEANUTS

July 11

deep purple blue The court should arrest them and fill up the jails, then there will be no more space in the jails.

SUDOKU Rockets fired from south Lebanon towards Israel July 11

Vikram Khan When will the people in the Middle East find peace?!

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

11

When Israel expelled Palestinians n Randall Kuhn

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The struggles of Sisyphus an be ended

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Imagine Sisyphus happy

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n Ikhtisad Ahmed

eason is dying. The media tries to gloss over it with its controlled narratives, self-proclaimed messiahs.

Activists and political analysts try to refute it with their mock rationality. But, despite the best efforts of a concerned and sensible minority, it has one foot firmly in the grave. Information is at the tips of one’s fingers in the 21st century, but the more one is able to know, the more one refuses to.

There is so much to do, so much fun to be had, and life is so very short that wasting time on obtaining information or trying one’s hardest to be well-informed is sterile and futile.

This rejection of information and reason creates a self-contained bubble of confirmation bias and partisanship, of abusive and tyrannical opinions based proudly on knowing very little, if anything at all. Whether it is the Brazil-Argentina footballing divide, the India-Pakistan cricketing conundrum, or the AL-BNP autocratic dilemma, Bangladeshis have condemned themselves to be so beholden to partisanship that it is impossible to put forward valid critiques, identify deficiencies and problems, or have an honest dialogue geared towards solutions without being labelled a sympathiser, sycophant, or slave.

Diminishing and extinguishing reason is, disturbingly, becoming a worldwide trend. This novel 22nd century way of thinking has given birth to the idea of making protests illegal.

The only real way of handling issues, after all, is to prevent them from being raised. If no problems can be heard of, then none exist. Simple and effective, British Prime Minister David Cameron has followed this logic to perfect politics. Responding to public sector strikes, he has promised restrictive legislation. Freedoms and rights are no longer to be guaranteed unless they are qualified. The hubristic future has arrived.

government was elected, along with its charged and convicted card-carrying members who are either in office or involved in the running of the state.

During that time of perceived stability, there has been no noteworthy improvement, but many a measure to exert and extend greater control, both overtly and covertly.

Additionally, the one major change has been that, with no opposition to fight, internal conflicts have broken

The trouble with impersonating Sisyphus is that, unlike him, people and countries are vulnerable to exhaustion

In Bangladesh, as a portion of the sensible minority wait for the BNP – absent in a parliament whose formation is still open to question – to become revolutionised, it continues to make archaic promises about protests.

The hordes of their partisan supporters rejoice since they do not demand much-needed change, simply that they rule the roost. The remainder of that lamentably sensible minority continue to talk, to analyse, to attempt revolutionary thought, but do little else, thereby being complicit in the death of reason.

It has been six months since this

out amongst leaders and soldiers of the party in power. The occasional abuse that is hurled at the party excluded from parliament, which is returned in kind, is not enough, such is the unquenchable need for partisanship in Bangladesh. That skill cannot be allowed to rust. These occurrences of infighting – at times humorous, at others a nuisance, always unlawful and condemnable but accepted as the rule – will only become more prevalent the longer the present status quo is forcibly maintained.

The country, meanwhile, continues to resemble Sisyphus. In the absence

of thresholds similar to those championed by Cameron against protests being applied to elections, which would render coalitions, governments elected with less than half the electorates’ approval, and governments born from coup d’états and military interventions invalid, all that remains is for freedoms to be eroded at times of crisis, especially when these freedoms have already been encroached on.

The trouble with impersonating Sisyphus – paying the price for hating death, for having a passion for life, and for the passions of this Earth – is that, unlike him, people and countries are vulnerable to exhaustion.

Furthermore, they are not captives of the Underworld, forced to endure any manner of punishment.

Knowing that they will achieve exactly nothing, they are wont to surrender or look for a different method or route. That represents a crisis for those in power, the resolution of which will maintain the established hierarchy in some form if it cannot be rescued in its entirety. This is the intelligent design.

Once reason has been vanquished by partisanship, and freedoms and rights felled by governance, there is nothing the citizens can do. There is time before that state is reached. The struggles of Sisyphus – devoid of hope, meaning, and purpose – can yet be ended. He is happy, for his fate belongs to him. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

n the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak made this analogy: “Think about what would happen if, for seven years, rockets had been fired at San Diego, California from Tijuana, Mexico.”

Within hours, scores of American pundits and politicians had mimicked Barak’s comparisons almost verbatim.

In fact, in this very paper on January 9, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor ended an opinion piece by saying, “America would never sit still if terrorists were lobbing missiles across our border into Texas or Montana.”

But let’s see if our political and pundit class can parrot this analogy.

Think about what would happen if San Diego expelled most of its Hispanic, African American, Asian American, and Native American population, about 48% of the total, and forcibly relocated them to Tijuana? Not just immigrants, but even those who have lived in this country for many generations. Not just the unemployed, or the criminals, or the America haters, but the school teachers, the small business owners, the soldiers, even the baseball players.

What if we established government and faith-based agencies to help move white people into their former homes?

And what if we razed hundreds of their homes in rural areas and, with the aid of charitable donations from people in the United States and abroad, planted forests on their former towns, creating nature preserves for whites to enjoy?

Sounds pretty awful, huh? I may be called anti-Semitic for speaking this truth. Well, I’m Jewish and the scenario above is what many prominent Israeli scholars say happened when Israel expelled Palestinians from southern Israel and forced them into Gaza. But this analogy is just getting started.

What if the United Nations kept San Diego’s discarded minorities in crowded, festering camps in Tijuana for 19 years? Then, the United States invaded Mexico, occupied Tijuana and began to build large housing developments in Tijuana where only whites could live.

Maybe someday, no corpus of misleading analogies will be able to obscure the truth

And what if the United States built a network of highways connecting American citizens of Tijuana to the United States? And checkpoints, not just between Mexico and the United States but also around every neighbourhood of Tijuana? What if we required every Tijuana resident, refugee or native, to show an ID card to the US military on demand? What if thousands of Tijuana residents lost their homes, their jobs, their businesses, their children, their sense of

self worth, to this occupation? Would you be surprised to hear of a protest movement in Tijuana that sometimes became violent and hateful? Okay, now for the unbelievable part.

What if we established government and faithbased agencies to help move white people into their former homes?

Think about what would happen if, after expelling all of the minorities from San Diego to Tijuana and subjecting them to 40 years of brutal military occupation, we just left Tijuana, removing all the white settlers and the soldiers? Only, instead of giving them their freedom, we built a 20-foot tall electrified wall around Tijuana?

Not just on the sides bordering San Diego, but on all the Mexico crossings as well. What if we set up 50-foot high watchtowers with machine gun batteries, and told them that if they stood within 100 yards of this wall we would shoot them dead on sight? And four out of every five days, we kept every single one of those border crossings closed, not even allowing food, clothing, or medicine to arrive. And we patrolled their air space with our stateof-the-art fighter jets but didn’t allow them so much as a crop duster. And we patrolled their waters with destroyers and submarines, but didn’t even allow them to fish.

Would you be at all surprised to hear that these resistance groups in Tijuana, even after having been “freed” from their occupation but starved half to death, kept on firing rockets at the United States? Probably not. But you may be surprised to learn that the majority of people in Tijuana never picked up a rocket, or a gun, or a weapon of any kind.

The majority, instead, supported against all hope, negotiations toward a peaceful solution that would provide security, freedom, and equal rights to both people in two independent states living side by side as neighbours. This is the sound analogy to Israel’s military onslaught in Gaza today.

Maybe someday soon, common sense will prevail and no corpus of misleading analogies about Tijuana or the crazy guy across the hall who wants to murder your daughter will be able to obscure the truth. And at that moment, in a country whose people shouted We Shall Overcome, Ich bin ein Berliner, End Apartheid, Free Tibet, and Save Darfur, we will all join together and shout “Free Gaza. Free Palestine.” And because we are Americans, the world will take notice and they will be free, and perhaps peace will prevail for all the residents of the Holy Land. l Randall Kuhn is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Global Health Affairs Program at the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies. This article was previously published in The Washington Times in 2009. Sadly, it is still applicable.

Spending time in school is not enough n Amit Dar

B

angladesh has made great strides in expanding schooling access over the last two decades.

It invested heavily in education to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education for all children by 2015. These investments have paid off: The net primary enrolment rate in the country is close to the rates of countries in East Asia.

The number of out-of-school children in the country has declined significantly since the turn of the millennium and is now less than 5 million. Equally impressive, the country has substantially narrowed the gender gap in primary and secondary school enrolment. Today, there are more girls than boys in both primary and secondary school.

But just spending time in school is not enough. To reap the full benefits of investing in education, students need to learn skills that the labour market is looking for. And here, the evidence reveals the need for reform.

The Government’s National Student Assessment (NSA) shows that only one

out of three fifth-grade students have grade V competencies.

Another survey conducted by the World Bank shows that in the rural areas, only 80-90% of students attain basic grade V competencies in oral and written mathematics even after completing grade IX. The large expansion of schooling over the past two decades has meant a large influx into schools of children who are first-generation school-goers and who face significant learning disadvantages, which may be reflected in the lower competencies overall.

Much of what Bangladeshi students are taught is procedural or rote-based.

Students are poorly-prepared in practical competencies such as measurement, problem-solving, and the writing of meaningful and grammatically-correct sentences. The study of science in the school system is oriented toward learning large volumes of scientific information and less toward cultivating intellectual curiosity.

The good news is that the government is now putting quality at the top of the agenda in its new educa-

tion strategy. If Bangladesh wants to harness the full potential of its labour force for economic growth, it will need to focus squarely on learning outcomes. A recent World Bank report, “Student Learning in South Asia: Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Priorities,” recommends a multi-pronged strategy for improving education quality that includes initiatives within and outside the education sector.

The first priority is to focus explicitly on measuring student achievement and progress. The state of student learning assessments needs to be strengthened significantly. The government is now investing in assessing student learning outcomes. This needs to happen regularly, consistently, and rigorously, and in benchmarking national learning outcomes against international standards.

Participating in international assessments will provide the education system the cutting-edge competencies needed to be globally competitive and make education more application-oriented and relevant. It will also provide a strong impetus and direction for re-

form programs in the education sector.

The second priority is to ensure that young children get enough nutrition.

Bangladesh has one of the world’s highest rates of childhood malnutrition, and this has a damaging effect on children’s ability to learn.

Much of what Bangladeshi students are taught is procedural or rote-based

Evidence worldwide, from both developing and developed countries shows that investing in early-life nutrition, with appropriate coverage and age targeting, is critical to offset life-long learning disadvantages, and can be a highly cost-effective investment in the quality and efficiency of education.

Third, improving teacher quality is essential to improving education quality. Several studies show that teachers perform poorly in math and language tests based on the curriculum they are supposed to teach. Higher and clear standards must be enforced, along with providing support to teachers to improve their quality. Merit-based recruitment policies need to be enforced along with measures to enhance teacher accountability and address the problem of teacher absenteeism. Such policies have proved to be successful in raising teacher quality in East Asia, with a positive impact on student learning.

Fourth, the government needs to use financial incentives to boost education quality. In the past, when extra resources were available for education, they were spent on reducing class sizes, and improving infrastructure. These have some merit but the evidence suggests they have not always resulted in student learning improvements. A better use of the resources would be to link them to need and student performance

(for example, performance pay for teachers, which is being implemented in Brazil).

Fifth and finally, the government cannot possibly afford to improve educational quality by itself. It needs to partner with the private sector, including non-governmental organisations, in this effort. The private and non-government sector is already playing a major role in Bangladeshi education, and the government should encourage greater private-sector participation by easing entry barriers and encouraging well-designed public-private partnerships in education.

Bangladesh has achieved great success in increasing school enrolment.

And the majority of the above-mentioned recommendations are already being initiated in Bangladesh. Today’s challenge is to give every Bangladeshi child the quality education he or she deserves. I am confident that Bangladesh will be successful in addressing this challenge too. l Amit Dar is the Global Practice Director for Education at the World Bank.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

It’s a special Eid for me: Apurbo

n Rezaul Karim The upcoming Eid is really special for Apurbo as he has recently become a fa-

ther and will spend the entire day with his new born son Ayyash.

“Being father is a whole new experience for me. I cannot express

the feeling in words,” said Apurbo, who also shared about his Eid ventures.

“Approximately 20 of my teleplays will be aired on different channels this Eid. While some of the characters are common, I have done some exciting work,” said Apurbo.

“One of the play is Babul Rashid Banna’s ‘My Life,’ where I enact the character of a doctor who is really obedient to his parents but at some point of his life he realises that he should have some say of his own,” said Apurbo, who loves challenging roles.

“Another very interesting character that I have played is of a very ambitious man who can do anything to achieve professional excellence in BU Shuvo’s ‘Shekor.’”

Besides, this Eid is also very special for Apurbo as he is debuting as a TV play director. Apurbo has written, directed and acted in the telefilm “Backdated”which will be aired on NTV during Eid. “My experiences of working with good directors promped me to take up such a challange,” said Apurbo.

“The film is about the conflict between modernity and old ways of life,” added the actor.

Apurbo further talked about his personal life and informed that besides plays and family, he was really occupied with the WC football matches.

The actor also shared his Eid plans saying: “I don’t go shopping that often, my wife generally takes care of that. But I have a few very selected shops in the city where I visit the night before Eid.” Apurbo also informed that he will celebrate Eid in Dhaka. l

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Rihanna lifts her top after Germany beat Argentina n Entertainment Desk

There’s nothing better than your country winning the World Cup, but Barbadian singer Rihanna seemed more than happy after Germany beat Argentina.

The pop princess took several snaps at the Maracana on Sunday night, celebrating the 1-0 win after extra-time.

Sabi debuts opposite Ferdous n Entertainment Desk The World Cup fanatic posted a picture lifting up her shirt to reveal her bra in the stands.

Earlier in the week Rihanna stayed true to her party loving form on Friday as she jetted into Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final.

Not even in the country for an hour, the 26-year-old cracked open a beer and gave a cheers to the soccer-mad city from her stunning penthouse hotel room before quickly getting changed into a chic black jumpsuit and painting the town red.

New sensation in the media, Shaila Sabi is now all set to make her debut as Ferdous’s heroine in an upcoming movie “Priya Tumi Shukhi Hou” directed by Gitali Hasan and produced

by Impress Telefilm. Ferdous came across Sabi during the “Shera Nachiye” competition and was impressed with her performance and asked her to work in one of his films.

The new comer is also getting the opportunity to work with renowned names in Dhaliwood such as Suchorita and Sohel Rana.

About acting, Sabi said: “I did some small scale stage shows in my hometown Tangail as well as Rajshahi and other big cities, but never thought I

would be acting in a movie. I feel elated. The storyline is fairly remarkable, besides my role in it is a bit different from what I am familiar with. I have put my whole heart in it. I hope the audiences will love it too.”

Shaila Sabi has played the lead role in another Impress Telefilm movie “Ghashphul” directed by Akram Khan. In addition, she has acted in more than twelve telefilms and four television dramas within this short span of time.

Channel i will air the film “Priya Tumi Shukhi Hou” on the day of Eidul-Fitr as its world première on television. Besides it will be on the big screens of Jamuna Blockbuster and Balaka and other top-notch cinema halls of the country. l

Mim to shoot for Good Morning London n Entertainment Desk EID TV HIGHLIGHTS

Toukir-Tarin in Eid drama

Taaha’s pick of Eid programme

n Entertainment Desk

“The Painter” starring Toukir Ahmed, Tarin and Mir Sabbir in lead roles will be aired on ATN Bangla this Eid. Written by Masum Reza, the drama is directed by Sayed Awlad. Abul Hayat, Ayon Chowdhury and Nobel will also be seen in the drama.

The story of the drama follows an actor named Shaila who gets a call from famed director Nishorgo Chowdhury. Once upon a time, she was madly in love with the director. He calls her and asks her to act in his upcoming drama. In conflict with herself, Shila seeks permission from her husband Golam Faruk, who is also a popular dramatist. Trying to be a liberal husband, at first Golam gives his consent but soon he becomes intolerant and jealous causing trouble in their espoused life. In the mean

Bidya Sinha Mim will be shooting for a film titled “Good Morning London.” A month ago, the actor fainted on the set of Tonmoy Tansen’s film “Padma Patar Jol” and was advised complete bed rest. Mim said: “All my projects have been postponed due to my illness. I am now gearing up for the shooting of ‘Good Morning London.’ I plan on staying in London for a few months.”

The story revolves around a boy from Bangladesh who goes to London to earn a living. The film has been directed by choreographer Tania Ahmed who said: “The cast and crew will start for London on August 6. There will be a 20 day shooting period starting from August 8.”

The script and play is written by Rayhan Khan. S I Tutul is the music director of the movie. The film stars Mim, Asif, Mishu Sabbir, and Tarik Anam Khan. l

TODAY IN DHAKA time, the disturbed Golam starts writing a fiction about a painter with mental disabilities. The story goes on to describe the life of the artist whose painting of a woman fades more and more every time he comes close to his lover. l

Film

Transformers: Age of Extinction (3D) Muppets Most Wanted Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex Bashundhara Ciry Panthapath

wNoah 3D Godzilla 3D Mr. Peabody and Sherman 3D Tarkaata Ami Shudhu Cheyechhi Tomay Time: 12:30pm – 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas

Salman Khan boycotted Glee stars remember Cory by photographers Monteith on death anniversary n Entertainment Desk Photographers are reacting to the treatment meted out to cameramen at a promotional event last Friday, where they were allegedly roughed up by Salman’s personal bodyguards and the venue’s security personnel.

“Salman Khan needs to apologise to us or else we will not photograph him.

The blackout will continue till July 25 when his film ‘Kick’ hits theatres. We

will not click him even if we see him cycling at Bandstand. Our union will take up the issue at a meeting on Monday,” a photographer told last evening.

Salman said: “Those who want to cover the event are welcome to stay, the rest can leave if they wish,” further aggravated the shutterbugs’ ire.

The skirmish at the centre of the ban on Salman reportedly started after the photographers requested him to pose at a particular spot and the star refused. l

n Entertainment Desk Lea Michele and “Glee” stars marked Cory Monteith’s death anniversary on Sunday by remembering the tragic star.

Michele posted a picture of her former boyfriend.

“We hold you in our hearts today, and every day we remember your smile. We will love you and miss you always,” she captioned the picture.

Showrunner Ryan Murphy took to Twitter early Sunday to write simply, “Miss you,” with a title card remembering the actor who rose to stardom as Finn Hudson on the Fox musical.

Brain Games airs today n Entertainment Desk

TV series “Brain Games” takes you on a journey using interactive games and experiments designed to mess with your mind and reveal the inner-workings of your brain.

The show will air on the National Geographic Channel today at 10:30pm.

Delving into topics like focus, fear, persuasion, decision-making and neural fitness, “Brain Games” turns your mind’s eye inwards for a profoundly entertaining and revealing journey into the three and a half pounds of tissue that makes you. Guiding you through the twists and turns of your grey matter is Jason Silva, who is joined by top experts in cognitive science, neuroscience and psychology.

Monteith, 31, was found dead in a Vancouver hotel a year ago. The actor died of drug toxicity.

Matthew Morrison, who played former glee club teacher Will Schuester, said he missed Monteith.

“Happy Birthday my friend... I miss you. I personally believe Cory was reborn into some other beautiful form a year ago today. I celebrate him and his life... Wherever that may be.”

Monteith’s passing away forced producers to change the ‘Glee’ story drastically as the actor’s character was originally set to take over the “Glee” club while Rachel, played by Michele, was going to go off to New York. l

Exhibition

Urban Experiences Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge Gulshan Avenue

I don’t take bullying well: Selena Gomez

n Entertainment Desk Singer Selena Gomez positively responded to a fan who left a hateful comment on one of her pictures.

The “Love You Like a Love Song” singer posted a screenshot of her response to the fan.

“The comment you left about cancer was absurd. How distasteful of young woman. I have gone through that battle with fans and family members. You can dislike someone but to wish something that could happen to you or your family is uncalled for sweetheart.

“You won’t be winning ‘anyone’s’ heart that way. Trust me. Educate yourself a tad more. God bless love. Be an amazing woman. You’re beautiful,” Gomez wrote.

The actress-singer later added that she decided to respond to her comment because she has always fought against bullying.

“Honestly, I don’t speak up much because it’s simply ‘always’ taken out of context. But I don’t take bullying well. I have seen too much to not say anything,” Gomez wrote. l

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Jayawardene to retire from Tests

BCB annonuces WI tour itinerary n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha reached Dhaka last night from Australia and will join the national training camp from today. Hathurusinghe’s arrival also means Bangladesh cricketers will start their second phase of their preparation for the tour of West Indies in August.

Hathurusingha left Bangladesh for a three week-long vacation to meet his family, just three days after the end of the three-match ODI series against India at home last month.

The national cricketers started their fitness training, the first phase of training, on July 1 under the supervision of the Bangladesh strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayen. The second phase of the training will be limited to skill development only.

Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach Heath Streak is also expected to join the camp in a day or two although it was reported earlier that the former Zimbabwe skipper would reach Dhaka in the first week of August.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the itinerary of Bangladesh’s tour of West Indies.

Bangladesh will play two Tests, three ODIs and one Twenty20 international during the 37-day-long tour. The series will kick-off with the lone one-day warm-up game on August 17 followed by the three-match ODI series. The ODI matches are scheduled to be played on August 20, 22 and 25 respectively.

The lone Twenty20 game of the bilateral series will be played on August 27 in Saint Kitts. Before the start of the two-match Test series, Bangladesh will play a three-day match starting on August 30. The two Tests against the hosts West Indies will begin from September 5 and 13 respectively. l

ITINERARY August 17 – Tour match (One-day) August 20 – 1st ODI August 22 – 2nd ODI August 25 – 3rd ODI August 27 – Only Twenty20 Aug 30 to Sep 1 – Tour match (Three-Day) Sep 5-9 – First Test Sep 13-17 – Second Test

13

n AFP, Colombo Star Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene said Monday he would retire from Test cricket after the series against Pakistan in August, drawing the curtain on an almost two decade-long Test career.

Jayawardene, 37, who has been a stalwart of the batting order since making his debut against India in 1997, said it was not an easy decision but ultimately he felt it was the right time to go.

“It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years,” Jayawardene said in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket.

“But I believe this is the right time (to go).”

Jayawardene is Test cricket’s sixth-highest run-getter, amassing 11,493 runs in his stellar career and ranking alongside fellow Sri Lanka stalwart Kumar Sangakkara.

Jayawardene, a member of the Sri Lankan team which achieved last month’s surprise 1-0 Test win in England, has played 145 Tests and averages just over 50 with 33 centuries.

The right-hander retired from Twenty20 internationals this April but

will still be available for one-day international cricket.

Chief cricket selector and former team-mate Sanath Jayasuriya said Jayawardene wanted to concentrate on training for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“He wants to give up Test cricket so that he can concentrate on one-day matches. He wants to be fully prepared for the next World Cup,” Jayasuriya told AFP. “We respect his decision.”

Jayawardene is expected to play in the series against Pakistan at home starting on August 14.

He has been in fine form recently, scoring an unbeaten double-century against Bangladesh in the first Test in Dhaka in January.

He made 203 not out, his seventh double-century.

Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lanka skipper, discussed Jayawardene’s retirement plans with Sri Lanka’s cricket board before it released the retirement letter on Monday.

“By stepping down from the Test squad he is also making way for a younger player to come in. We thank him for all he has done for cricket in the country,” Jayasuriya said. l

BJMC compound Sheikh Russel woes A draw against Abahani today will see Sheikh Jamal win the title afternoon’s epic encounter between mier league this season, more than any n Shishir Hoque table leaders Sheikh Jamal Dhanmon- of the top five team’s defeats in the Guinean striker Ismael Bangoura netted a brace as Team BJMC inflicted yet another defeat on holders Sheikh Russell with a 2-1 victory in a Nitol Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. However, this

di and second placed Abahani at the same venue could turn out to be a title decider as a draw would be enough for Sheikh Jamal to confirm their second premier league title with two games in hand. They now have 55 points from 24 matches, nine more than Abahani.

Sheikh Russell, who won treble last season, have seen their season go from bad to worse as yesterday’s defeat was their ninth defeat in the pre-

points table. Defeat seemed inevitable for the defending champions after two quick first-half goals from Bangoura were enough for BJMC to seal all three points. Guinean forward Bangoura gave BJMC the lead in the 17th minute before scoring another seven minutes later to double BJMC’s lead. Mithun Chowdhury continued his goal scoring form for Sheikh Russell and the in-form national forward scored the solitary

consolation for his side in the 33rd minute. It was Mithun’s 14th goal in the premier this season which put him in third place in the top scorers’ list alongside Muktijoddha’s Nkwocha Kingsley and Mohammedan’s Wahed Ahmed.

This loss, however, didn’t alter Sheikh Russel’s position in the middle of the points table. They sit sixth with 32 points from 25 matches with just two game left to play followed by BJMC at seventh with 27 points from same number of matches. l

Scolari fired as Brazil manager n Reuters, Sao Paulo

Brazil have sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari just hours after the end of a home World Cup in which they suffered two of their worst defeats in the tournament’s history, one of Brazil’s leading newspapers reported on Monday.

Scolari’s Brazil were favourites to win the tournament but were demolished 7-1 in the semi-finals by eventual champions Germany. To compound their misery, they lost the third-place playoff 3-0 against the Netherlands.

Scolari, who led Brazil to the last of their record five World Cups in 2002, said after the game he would make a report to his bosses at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and only then would his fate be decided. l

Fred retires from Brazil duty n AFP Brazil striker Fred announced his retirement from international football on Sunday, one day after Brazil ended their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign.

“For me, the Selecao is finished,” the 30-year-old Fluminense forward told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper.

Fred scored one goal at Brazil 2014 and made his last appearance during Tuesday’s 7-1 semi-final loss against Germany in Belo Horizonte. The former Lyon forward made his Brazil debut in 2005 and went on to score 39 international goals. l

Messi wins Golden Ball, Neuer earns Golden Glove, Rodriguez top scorer n Reuters, Rio De Janeiro

Argentina captain Lionel Messi won FIFA’s “Golden Ball” award as the best player of the World Cup after leading his team to Sunday’s final and Colombia’s James Rodriguez finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who kept a clean sheet as his side beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to claim their fourth World Cup, was awarded the “Golden Gloves” as the tournament’s top keeper.

Four-times world player of the year Messi had a quiet game by his standards on Sunday but was the driving force behind Argentina’s push to their first World Cup final since 1990.

He scored four of their six goals in the group stage, set up Angel di Maria’s winner in the last 16 against Switzerland and shouldered the burden of slotting home Argentina’s first penalty in their shootout win over the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

Messi also won four successive manof-the-match awards against Bosnia, Iran, Argentina and Switzerland.

FIFA AWARDS Best Player of the Tournament Lionel Messi (ARG) Thomas Mueller (GER) Arjen Robben (NED)

Top scorer James Rodriguez (COL) - 6 goals Thomas Mueller (GER) - 5 goals Neymar (BRA - 4 goals Top goalkeeper: Neuer (GER)

Best Young Player: Pogba (FRA) Fair Play award: Colombia A despondent Messi took little consolation in the award.

“It’s a sad prize which I won, because we wanted to lift the World Cup trophy for Argentina.”

While some pundits thought Messi looked jaded after the group stage and

did not influence his team as much, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said he was a deserving winner.

“I think Lionel reached the pantheon of the greats a while back,” Sabella told reporters. “Yes, I think he deserved it. He played a great World Cup to get us where he did.

“I think it’s very deserved.”

Germany forward Thomas Mueller was runner-up to Messi and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben was third.

Mueller also came runner-up behind Rodriquez for the Golden Boot award.

The Germany forward finished with five goals, one behind the Colombian attacking midfielder.

France midfielder Paul Pogba was named young player of the tournament, while Colombia took the Fair Play award after receiving just five yellow cards in five matches in Brazil.

FIFA also praised their positive play and the behaviour of their players and officials. l

Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (L) and Argentina’s forward and captain Lionel Messi (R) hold their respective trophies of ‘Golden Glove’ and ‘Golden Ball’ during a presentation ceremony after the final at The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday AFP

WORLD CUP HEROES AND VILLAINS VILLAINS Arjen Robben (NED) The flying or diving Dutchman enjoys a roving role in the two categories. When on his feet he had a largely outstanding World Cup but when his country needed him most he went into hiding in the semi-final.

The 30-year-old forward will always dazzle with some of his trickery, the other side of it tricking referees - will always infuriate people.

Luis Suarez (URU) Or ‘Chewy Luis and the News’ as some have titled him could have been in the heroes column if he continued in the same vein as his startling two goals against England less than a month after undergoing knee surgery. However, his bad habit of being attracted to human flesh returned as Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder attested to. Denied it, then apologised though

it appears it stemmed from a request by Barcelona who he subsequently joined.

Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng (GHA) Heroes four years ago but sent home in disgrace prior to their crucial group game with Portugal in these finals. Muntari, a renowned badboy with previous form, physically attacked a Ghanaian federation official while Boateng verbally abused coach Kwesi Appiah. “If you want to build a team and instil discipline it’s always important that you set things right so that it doesn’t affect the team in the future,” Appiah said after Portugal beat them 2-1 to send them home.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (CMR) His headbutting of his Cameroon team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo towards the end of the 4-0 drubbing

by Croatia summed up in the worst possible way the depths to which the once proud ‘Indomitable Lions’ had plummeted to. Volker Finke described the defender’s behaviour as ‘disgusting’. The 30-year-old later explained his gesture was borne out of frustration at Moukandjo failing to heed his advice to pass to him both in the first game against Mexico and then the Croatian match. “When I told him again (to pass to me), he replied: ‘Get off my back!’ I could not accept his reaction. There was so much frustration in that match,” Assou-Ekotto told L’Equipe.

HEROES Mario Goetze His talent and good looks make him the envy of many but he will forever be a hero in Germany after his stunning volley secured them their fourth World Cup title and first since the two Germany’s were unified. The 22-year-old equates being a footballer to a boxer and on Sunday he delivered a notable knockout blow to four-time

world footballer of the year Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team-mates.

James Rodriguez (COL) He made the absence of talismanic Colombian striker Radamel Falcao irrelevant as the angelic-faced 23-year-old scored six goals and set up two goals to boot.

Showed great maturity in not losing his cool under intense provocation from the robust tactics adopted by the Brazilians in their quarter-final. The irony was that he ended up being booked for an innocuous foul. Tears at the end but he brought much joy.

Yohan Cabaye (FRA) Performed well on the pitch for France but his intervention after a couple of French play-

ers namely Morgan Schneiderlin and Bacary Sagna said they should win the World Cup after topping their group otherwise it would be a failure earns him special praise. “The fact we showed our quality in the group stage obviously should make us more confident but not arrogant, otherwise we are going to have major problems,” said the 28-year-old displaying the sort of down to earth common sense that would have stood the cursed team of 2010 in good stead.

Guillermo Ochoa (MEX) Arrived at the finals without a club having left relegated F r e n c h championship side Ajaccio but he departed having done his future employment prospects the world of good. Mop haired headband wearing surfer look maybe bedazzled some of his opponents but his startling performances in the 0-0 draw with Brazil and in the last 16 game with the Netherlands amongst others

will surely see him snapped up soon. “It was incredible (one save he made from Neymar in the Brazil game). Maybe people don’t know him very well because he was playing in a little club, but for those who work with him every day, it really wasn’t a surprise,” said centre-back Hector Moreno.

Cesare Prandelli (ITA) He has always set different standards as a man and a coach, stepping down from a top role when his wife became seriously ill -- she later died -- and penalising his players if they misbehaved off the pitch as well as on it. Thus he didn’t hesitate once Italy failed to go through to the second round to accept the blame and resign announcing it in the post match press conference. “I take all responsibility for our failure. It’s useless for me to sit here and say I could have done it differently. This is why I’m resigning,” said the 56-year-old.

14

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Five facts on Goetze The 22-year-old Goetze infuriated Borussia Dortmund fans by moving to arch-rivals Bayern Munich 12 months ago. The 37 million euro deal made him Germany’s most expensive player until Mesut Ozil’s 50 million euro move to Arsenal. He has struggled to get a regular place with Bayern but still scored 10 league goals in 27 games in 2013-14. He joined Dortmund as an eight-year-old and was a key member of the Dortmund team that won the German title in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Goetze is the first substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final. He has now scored 11 goals in 35 appearances for Die Mannschaft.

Goetze made his first appearance for Germany in November 2010, coming on as a substitute in a goalless draw against Sweden. His first goal for Germany was on August 10, 2011 made him the joint youngest scorer for the country at 19 years and 68 days.

Goetze had a relationship with James Bond girl Eva Green for two years and now is dating top model Ann Kathrin Brommel.

Despite his glamour image, Goetze insists he is not concerned about looking after his appearance. He told GQ in an interview: “Everyone is a little bit vain.

I like to take care of my appearance just like Marco (Reus his close friend).

But I don’t concentrate on every detail, it’s not that important to me.”

Goetze equates being a footballer to a boxer. He said in an interview in in December 2012 as he battled against injury: “A boxer needs a lot of fighting spirit, lots of ambition, and will power.

And those are the sort of qualities you need as a footballer. Like with me and my injury: You’re on your own, and you have to get back to your original level of fitness. It can take weeks, sometimes even months. So there are lots of parallels with a boxer: Standing in the ring, having to watch out every second that nothing happens to him.”

–AFP

Germany’s Mario Goetze and his girlfriend Kathrin Brommel (R) carry the twin daughters of teammate Jerome Boateng at the end of their 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday

Loew hails ‘miracle boy’ Goetze n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Joachim Loew revealed he told Mario Goetze to “prove he’s better than Lionel Messi” before Germany’s “miracle boy” hit the extra-time goal to win Sunday’s World Cup final.

Goetze came off the substitutes bench to score a stunning 113th-minute goal as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

“I told Mario Goetze, ‘go out and show the world you are better than Messi’,” said Loew.

“Goetze is the miracle boy, he is the wonder who can play in numerous positions, he is the decider who can come on and make a difference and that is what he did today.”

The German coach meanwhile basked in his team’s historic win, the first by a European team in South America.

It came after four consecutive near-misses in major tournaments stretching back to 2006.

“We have been together for 55 days, we have started this project years ago and this is the culmination of a lot of hard work,” Loew said.

“We have been able to improve our performances, we believed in it and worked a lot for it.

“This team really deserves it with the likes of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker.

“We have had disappointment in the past having gone close despite playing good football.

“I think we put in the best performances over all the seven matches of all the teams here.”

Loew said the tournament triumph was forged on team spirit.

“This team has developed an unbelievable team spirit and has developed a marvellous mental capacity,” he said.

“And we are proud to become the first European country to win the title in south America. In Brazil, In Rio is this football-loving country and that makes us very proud.”

“This deep joy and happiness will last forever, the team gave all they had lead by the marvellous Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield and Philipp Lahm, who ran a number of kilometres.

“I told the team before kick-off that they would have to give more than they had ever given before, because they wanted to achieve something we had never previously achieved.”

Loew said one of the highlights of his career had been Germany’s 7-1 semi-final hammering of hosts Brazil

last Tuesday, but the reaction of the host country’s football-crazy supporters had taken him by surprise.

“It is one of the highlights of my career that after we beat Brazil, although the disappointment was enormous, the Brazilians applauded us,” said Loew.

“The drive took an hour to the airport, but we had Brazilians cheering us on the sidewalks.

“When we were about 10 minutes from our World Cup base in Bahia, we saw people welcoming us with flags and banners and that really got under our skin.

“I told the team we are going to a foreign country and we are representing 80 million Germans, but I wanted the local people to feel that the team were focused on their football, but enjoying themselves.

“The people supported us with joy and love and I want to say ‘Thank You, Brazil’.”

“Both teams had their chances, but we had the better part of the game and possession,” said Loew.

“In extra-time, we had the sufficient energy, we didn’t want penalties and we wanted to decide the match before.

“Argentina had the mind to wait and then counter-attack, when they got the ball, players like Messi were fed possession up front. l

REUTERS

Super Mario delighted to be Germany’s WC winner n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Germany’s Mario Goetze said scoring the winning goal in Sunday’s World Cup final win was the crowning glory on a difficult first season following his high-profile move to Bayern Munich.

The baby-faced 22-year-old’s superb chest and volley from an Andre Schuerrle cross on 113 minutes sealed Germany’s 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said the Bayern forward.

“I don’t know how to describe it. You just score that goal and you don’t really know what’s happening after that.

“It’ll be a party with the whole team and the country. It’s a dream come true to win the World Cup, especially in Brazil.”

Goetze came on for veteran striker Miroslav Klose just before the start of extra-time and his 11th goal for Germany will go down in the history books as he made only his 35th appearance for ‘Die Mannschaft’.

He picked up the man-of-the-match award in Rio as Germany became the first European side to win a World Cup in the Americas at the eighth attempt.

Goetze joins ‘Der Bomber’ Gerd

Top 5 World Cup goals

Mueller, who netted the winning goal for West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final in Munich, as a Bayern player who made their country world champions.

MATCH STATS

Germany Argentina Goals scored 1 0 Total shots 10 10 Shots on target 7 2 Corners 5 3 Offsides 3 2 Fouls committed 20 16 Yellow cards 2 2 Red cards 0 0 Ball possession 60 % 40 % But Goetze arrived in Brazil after a difficult first season with the Bavarian giants having failed to winning a regular starting place in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side.

Having won two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund, the club he joined as an eight-year-old, Goetze became public-enemy number one with Borussia fans in April 2013 when he actioned a 37 million euro clause ($50.3 million) in his contract to sign for Bayern. l

Teamwork key to German glory: Lahm

n AFP, Rio De Janeiro

ROBIN VAN PERSIE Netherlands v Spain, Group B

TIM CAHILL Australia v Netherlands, Group B

LIONEL MESSI Argentina v Iran, Group F

Salvador, June 13

Porto Alegre, June 18

Belo Horizonte, June 21

JAMES RODRIGUEZ Colombia v Uruguay, last 16 Rio de Janeiro, June 28

The first wonder goal of the 2014 World Cup was also many pundits choice as the best of the lot.

With the Netherlands trailing 1-0, Daley Blind swung an inviting angled long ball into the penalty area. Van Persie tracked the flight of ball perfectly, and diving full-length to meet it, lobbed an extraordinary header over Iker Casillas and into the net. Not only was it one of the goals of the tournament, it was the catalyst for a Dutch comeback that would see Spain thrashed 5-1.

Australia were largely thought to be making up the numbers in Group B, where their first round opponents included the Netherlands, Spain and Chile. But even though they ended up losing all three games as predicted, veteran striker Tim Cahill gave his team one of the signature moments of the tournament with his 21st minute thunderbolt against the Dutch. Meeting a long ball on the run, the 34-year-old uncorked a ferocious volley that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.

Iran looked to have done enough to have secured an improbable point against the mighty Argentines, and on another may even have snatch a win. But with the game deep into injury time, and Argentinian supporters gloomily resigned to a goalless draw, Messi decided to stamp his class on the contest with a decisive, match-winning intervention. Collecting the ball on the righthand edge of the penalty area, he jinked past one defender and then let fly with a left foot shot which flew into the net.

The 22-year-old Rodriguez had already won a legion of admirers for his skilful attacking artistry during the group phase, where he had racked up three goals. But he took his adulation to another level with a goal of sumptuous brilliance in the Maracana Stadium to open the scoring against Uruguay in the last 16. Collecting a header on his chest 25 yards from goal, the Colombia No.10 let the ball drop and then unleashed an unstoppable left-foot volley that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.

MARIO GOETZE Germany v Argentina, Final Rio de Janeiro, July 8 Goetze had begun the tournament as one of coach Joachim Loew’s starting XI only to lose his place in the side.

But when called upon as a late substitute in the final the 22-year-old did not disappoint.

Andre Schuerrle’s run and cross was met by Goetze who controlled on his chest to volley home.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm hailed his side’s collective ability as they downed Lionel Messi’s Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup for fourth time in Rio de Janeriro on Sunday.

Substitute Mario Goetze grabbed the only goal of the game in extra time as Argentina paid for missing a host of good chances through Gonzalo Higuain, Messi and Rodrigo Palacio to take the lead.

“It’s unbelievable what we have achieved. Whether we have the best individual player doesn’t matter at all, you just need to have the best team,” said the Bayern Munich defender.

“We improved throughout the tournament and didn’t get down when things didn’t always go our way, we just stuck to our path and at the end we’re standing here as world champions.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. The team stayed calm and patient, we knew that we had something left at the end.” l

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, July 15, 2014

15

Maradona disagrees with Messi award n BBC

Messi already a great: Sabella n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Lionel Messi’s failure to win the World Cup with Argentina on Sunday does not affect his status as an all-time great, according to coach Alejandro Sabella.

Messi was bidding to emulate his compatriot Diego Maradona by inspiring Argentina to victory in the final in Rio de Janeiro, but instead the four-time world footballer of the year finished on the losing side as Germany prevailed 1-0. The 27-year-old

Barcelona superstar squandered a glorious chance early in the second half when he shot wide with only goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to beat, but Sabella said that his captain had nothing to prove.

“It is a very demanding tournament and it is drains everyone physically. He is already among the greatest of all time,” Sabella said.

Despite Argentina’s defeat, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player, and Sabella

felt he was a worthy recipient.

“I think yes he deserved it, because he played a great World Cup,” said the Argentina coach.

“He was a fundamental factor for where we ended up. It was thoroughly deserved.”

Messi scored four goals in the group phase, including a fine solo goal against Bosnia-Hercegovina and a stunning injury-time winner against Iran, but he failed to find the net in the knockout stage. l

Muted not magical, Messi misses again n Reuters, Rio De Janeiro

Lionel Messi walked up the steps at the Maracana. It was at the end of 120 minutes of Sunday’s gripping World Cup final and the Argentine was collecting a revered golden trophy, one befitting his status as the greatest player of his generation.

Still, though, Messi wore a look of anguish. The trophy he was receiving was the “Golden Ball” awarded to the World Cup’s best player, scant consolation for missing out on the big prize which sat within touching distance but as far away as ever.

“It is a sad prize that I won because we wanted to lift the trophy for Argentina,” he said, as if the look on his face had not already said it all.

For two hours, in front of almost 75,000 howling football fans, Messi failed to produce that special magic for which he is renowned, and was unable to lead his team to World Cup glory.

Instead, Germany broke the South

American stranglehold on World Cups held in the Americas, and won a fourth title to add to the trophies won by West Germany in 1954, 1974 and 1990.

Messi will surely long reflect on this match, one which could have gilded his already sparkling reputation, but which instead will sit like a stain on his resume.

It took him two minutes to get his first touch of the ball with a cushioned chest from a throw-in and 118 minutes later he had his last with a free kick lashed high over the German bar.

Messi’s chance of adding a World Cup crown to his staggering haul of football treasure had disappeared in a Maracana cauldron of noise.

The greatest player of his generation grimaced, smiled and looked up into the Rio de Janeiro night sky. The magical Messi had been unable to unlock the world’s best team and Germany were champions.

Their 1-0 victory had been a thunderous contest, full of robust tackles and it was a match Messi had been unable to

WORLD CUP QUOTES uu

“It’s unbelievable what we have achieved. Whether we have the best individual player doesn’t matter at all, you just need to have the best team” Germany captain Philipp Lahm after the 1-0 final win over Argentina

uu

“When there are chances in a game that is so evenly balanced you have to take them. We lacked a bit of efficiency” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella after Sunday’s final loss to Germany

uu

“We are not falling apart.”

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque after the champions’ elimination.

uu

“Do people really need to watch us without our underpants?”

Croatia international Ivica Olic slamming local media for publishing photographs of teammates swimming naked.

uu

“Apparently drones are used more and more. We don’t want intrusion into our privacy. It’s hard to fight.”

France coach Didier Deschamps on hi-tech spying at the World Cup.

uu

“They took away my dream of playing in a World Cup final, but the dream of being world champion has not ended” Brazil poster boy Neymar, after his injury in the quarter-final agaisnt Colombia, but before Brazil’s 7-1 mauling by Germany

uu

“He’s the water in the desert. He finds solutions when we think there aren’t any.”

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella on what his captain and four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi brings to the team.

uu

“I vow to the public that there will never again be another incident like that” Luis Suarez, after taking on the role of the World Cup’s villain by biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, promising to keep his nashers for eating in future

uu

“It is a success of the country, of this game” A relieved FIFA president Sepp Blatter after fears of widespread protests at the cost of hosting the feast of football failed to materialise

uu

“I think it was the worst day of my life, but life goes on” Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari after the hosts’ stunning cricket-score semi-final loss to Germany

uu

“The ‘Maracanazo’ has become a small matter, literally a thing of the past” Brazil daily Lance suggesting Brazil’s traumatic loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup paled into insignificance beside the Germany rout

uu

“I believe he’s the best player at the World Cup” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has high praise for Colombia’s young star striker James Rodriguez, author of six goals, including a sensational volley

stamp his authority over.

There had been some nice jinks and deft touches from the 27-year-old. A shot had gone close, a late header had lifted some sections of the stadium out of their seats. But in the final analysis, there had been rather too much trotting in the centre of the pitch, in that tight, tidy compact way he has - head a little stooped, legs a little bandy.

Messi was neither the conductor of this Argentine team, nor its heartbeat. He proved on this occasion to be a peripheral character, showing flashes of brilliance but little influence.

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella stalked on the sidelines, immaculate in a blue suit but often bent at the waist and gesticulating wildly, trying to urge his captain on.

Messi, however, seemed to have little energy or vision. As the first half wore on frustration told and he started charging around after the ball, chasing it as Germans crisply passed it between themselves.

When jinking, he invariably ran into a sea of white shirts and his shooting was unusually off range. He came closest at the beginning of the second half when a curling shot flashed only centimetres wide. But soon passes started to go awry, always followed by plaintive apologies, and his runs became rarer.

By midway through the second half, Messi resembled a golfer taking a carefree stroll, only really switching on when required to take a shot.

Then it became a slower walk. Then he was standing, hands on hips, leaning on first one leg and then the other.

He managed a header deep in extra time but that was from far out and would never bother the immense Neuer, eventually floating high.

But in the dying seconds the scene was hastily set for a Messi masterpiece and a golden opportunity for redemption.

Fouled by Bastian Schweinsteiger, the Argentine lined up his free kick some 30 yards from Neuer’s goal. l

Argentine legend Diego Maradona says his compatriot Lionel Messi did not deserve the Golden Ball award at the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Messi, 27, picked up the prize for the tournament’s best player following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat by Germany in the final at the Maracana stadium.

“I would give heaven and earth to Leo,” said Maradona.

“But when marketing people want him to win something he didn’t [deserve to] win, it is unfair.

Messi scored four goals in the group stages but failed to add to that tally in the knockout rounds.

He set up his side’s winner against Switzerland in the last 16 but struggled in the semi-final against the Netherlands.

Messi was only a sporadic threat in the final, in which he also missed a chance to put his side ahead.

“I could see that he didn’t want to go up and collect it [the award],” said Maradona, who was named the best player when Argentina won the World Cup in 1986.

Speaking on his World Cup television programme De Zurda, Maradona said Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez was the 2014 World Cup’s star perfomer.

However, the former Argentina player and coach says his country’s national team could be proud of their performance against Germany.

“We raised our flag high, there’s no doubt about that,” he added. l

World Cup pain will last forever, says Mascherano n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said the pain of losing the World Cup final in extra time to Germany on Sunday would live with him forever.

“Unfortunately the pain will be there for life because this was our chance,” said the Barcelona midfielder after the 1-0 defeat in Rio de Janeiro.

Argentina played extra time in three of their four knockout games and also had a day less to rest ahead of the final than the Germans after squeezing past the Netherlands on penalties in the semi-final on Wednesday.

And the 30-year-old said they ran out of steam in the second-half of extra time when Mario Goetze struck the winner seven minutes from time.

“It is difficult to explain. It escaped from us at the last minute, we did everything to try and win. We had the best chances until we ran out of gas.

“The pain is immense because we wanted to take the World Cup back to Argentina but we gave everything. We are empty, we gave what we had and we are sorry for ourselves, for the people that came here and for the people that are in Argentina.

“Football is like this and we have to raise our heads and deal with the pain.”

Argentina also had claims for a penalty turned down early in the second-half when Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer dangerously charged into Gonzalo Higuain with his feet raised.

However, Mascherano graciously played down the part played by Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli played in the final outcome.

“These are plays that happen in football. The referee didn’t influence the game at all.”

Mascherano was included amongst the top 10 players of the tournament after a series of stellar performances, but he insisted he was prouder to have been part of a fine team effort in taking Argentina to their first final in 24 years.

“This is a sport where the team matters not the individuals” he added.

“We can leave with our conscious clear knowing we gave it our all.

“We were up to the task of what a game at this level demands. We gave everything we could, but we just lacked that little bit of luck you need in a final, which they had.” l

Messi laments lack of killer instinct n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Argentina captain Lionel Messi regretted his side’s missed chances after Germany beat his side 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday thanks to Mario Goetze’s extra time goal. Gonzalo Higuain, Rodrigo Palacio and Messi himself all passed up clear opportunities chances to put Argentina in front before Goetze struck seven minutes from time.

“There is sadness to finish in this way, I think we deserved a little more today”, said the Barcelona star “The better chances were ours and between the forwards we couldn’t take them,” he told Direct TV. Messi was still crowned as the player of the tournament for his performances and four goals in seven matches.

However, he insisted the individual award was scant consolation for missing out on a much bigger collective prize.

“The truth is it doesn’t interest me at this moment,” he said of the award.

“We wanted to win the World Cup for all the people in Argentina and we couldn’t do it.

“We tried, but we didn’t have the luck we had in other games.

And Messi insisted it was hard to take consolation from carrying his country to the final for the first time in 24 years in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.

“After a long time not getting past the quarter-finals we managed to get to the final, but today there is the disappointment of having lost in the last minutes of extra time.” l

Argentina fans react after Germany scored a goal, during a public viewing of the 2014 Brazil World Cup final match, in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday REUTERS

Argentina press hails ‘heart of champions’ n AFP, Buenos Aires Argentina’s media summed up the national mood as crestfallen but proud Monday after the extra-time defeat to Germany in the World Cup final, coming heartbreakingly close to their third title.

“Heart of champions” read the headline on sports daily Ole’s website, with a full-page photo of midfielder Javier Mascherano embracing national hero Lionel Messi, who won the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament.

“The dream is over. Argentina confronted a powerful Germany head-on, fought hard and created great chances,” it wrote. “We lost the final 1-0, but we gave everything we had and returned to the (World Cup) podium after 24 years.”

“Thank you World Cup team,” it added, saying they “deserve the best welcome.”

Messi and company are expected home Monday morning, with President Cristina Kirchner due to meet them on arrival.

Other papers chronicled the team’s defeat alongside the violence that broke out Sunday night in Buenos Aires, where hooligans crashed an initially festive post-match party at the capital’s iconic Obelisk monument.

The hardcore fans, known as “barras bravas,” broke windows, looted shops and threw stones at riot police, who fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in return -- causing the crowd of tens of thousands of people to rush from the area. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, July 15, 2014 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, June 16, 2014

13 Jayawardene to retire from Tests

Sport

14 Loew hails ‘miracle boy’ Goetze

Partners of German squad members pose after Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup final football match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday

Beautiful game blossoms at World Cup carnival n AFP, Rio De Janeiro

Wonderful goals, gripping drama, shock results, new heroes, old villains: the World Cup played out like the gripping blockbuster tournament its organisers always dreamed it would be.

Long before the curtain came down on the month-long footballing carnival with Germany’s victory on Sunday, many had already decided it deserved to be remembered as the greatest in the event’s 84-year history.

Others argued that the absence of truly memorable matches in the knockout rounds -- Germany’s astonishing 7-1 semi-final walloping of Brazil the obvious exception -- should preclude 2014 from ‘greatest ever’ status.

But whether the best, or merely one of the best, what is undeniable is that the 2014 World Cup saw a dramatic

spike in entertainment, ending a run of four consecutive tournaments where the goals-per-game average had shrunk.

Mario Goetze’s extra-time winner to sink Argentina in the Maracana on Sunday provided a glorious, emphatic fullstop to a tournament punctuated by riveting entertainment -- and goals.

Goetze’s strike was the 171st of the finals, equalling the record tally achieved in a 32-team World Cup at the 1998 finals in France.

The tone was set early in the tournament, with the Netherlands’ stunning 5-1 thrashing of defending champions Spain in Salvador notable for both the quantity and quality of goals scored.

Dutch striker Robin van Persie’s lobbed header was the first of several wonder-goals that lit up the tournament as teams discarded conservatism and embraced adventure. Australia’s Tim

Cahill, Colombia’s James Rodriguez and Argentina’s Lionel Messi also chipped in with memorable attacking cameos as caution was thrown to the wind.

“It looks like teams are here to score goals,” observed former France and Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier midway through the tournament.

“Some of the games that we have seen are more like basketball games, just going from one goal to the other.”

Houllier was among many who wondered whether the exotic backdrop of the World Cup, in the spiritual home of the fabled “jogo bonito” served to inspire the 32 participating teams.

“I ask myself is there this vibrancy because the World Cup is in Brazil?” said the Frenchman, part of FIFA’ technical study group.

But it wasn’t just goalscorers who hogged the limelight. It was also a vin-

tage tournament for the brotherhood of goalkeepers.

Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa’s remarkable diving save to deny Brazil’s Neymar drew comparisons with Gordon Banks’s famous denial of Pele in 1970.

Ochoa’s defiant display was matched elsewhere by Germany’s Manuel Neuer, the United States’ Tim Howard and Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas.

The outstanding individual performances were studded throughout a broader storyline that contained unexpected plot twists from the outset.

Spain’s unexpected demise was the biggest early shock. The defending champions -- seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites -- were ousted after only two games following defeats by the Netherlands and Chile.

They were soon joined in the departure lounge by England and Italy, elimi-

nated the first round after finishing behind minnows Costa Rica and Uruguay in Group D. Italy’s early exit was overshadowed by the biggest controversy of the tournament, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez’s biting of the Azzurri’s Giorgio Chiellini.

It was third time Suarez had bitten a player in his career.

Elsewhere in the first round, the World Cup saw a number of notable firsts. The vanishing spray introduced for free-kicks was a success, eliminating at a stroke yellow cards for encroachment. Goal-line technology was also a popular debutant, being used to award a goal for the first time in France’s win over Honduras.

As the tournament progressed to the knockout rounds, the tension increased and the goals dried up.

Four quarter-finals saw only five

AFP

goals. Three of those came in Brazil’s pulsating 2-1 win over Colombia.

But victory came at a cost for the hosts, who saw star striker Neymar ruled out of the tournament with a fractured vertebra, and captain Thiago Silva picking up a suspension which kept him out of the semi-finals.

That twin blow left Brazil fatally weakened for their semi-final against Germany, but even so, no-one predicted the carnage that was was to unfold at Belo Horizonte, when an incredible burst of four goals in six minutes saw Joachim Loew’s side go 5-0 up inside 29 minutes.

Germany scored twice more to advance to the final, leaving Brazil to reflect on the worst defeat in their history. The sheer scale of the loss made it arguably the greatest World Cup shock in history. l

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) and Lukas Podolski take a ‘selfie’ after their victory in the final match against Argentina at The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday AFP

Schweinsteiger tribute to jailed Hoeness n AFP, Rio De Janeiro Bastian Schweinsteiger paid tribute to jailed Bayern Munich legend Uli Hoeness after Germany’s World Cup triumph here Sunday.

Schweinsteiger, who turned in a magnificent performance in the German midfield, had words of support for Hoeness, who was jailed for three-and-a-half years for tax evasion in May. “Special greetings to someone who many of us wouldn’t have been here without: Uli Hoeness,” said Schweinsteiger.

“Many thanks for your support of us (Bayern Munich players) and we believe that it will all be okay and we’re behind you.”

Hoeness, a member of West Germany’s 1974 World Cup winning side, was a hugely influential figurer at Bayern, Schweinsteiger’s club.

Schweinsteiger meanwhile celebrated an “unbelievable” victory.

“We’ll enjoy the moment, it’s unbelievable,” he said.

“Thank you to the whole of Germany for your support.

“We could feel how much you have got behind us here.

“It was an unbelievable performance, but how the boys on the bench have got into it is something I have never experienced before.

“That gave us so much power, now because of it we have won the World Cup.” l

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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Hi-tech parks delayed as land unavailable Showkat Kallol and n Asif Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Earlier, Prime Minister’s telecommunication and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy announced to increase the area of the country’s first hi-tech park at Kaliakoir, Gazipur by another 40.47 hectares (100 acres). The area of the park, which was started about 15 years ago in 1999 and is still to be completed, will now stand at 332 acres.

During a visit to the project site, Joy expressed dissatisfaction at the slow progress but said the park would be completed within the term of the present government.

The tech park has progressed very little in the past 15 years since the project was conceived, and officials concerned blame frequent shifts in government’s decision and the World Bank’s intervention for this.

In 1999, the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina decided to establish the park on 232 acres of land of the Kaliakoir Surface Satellite Station. But the following four-party alliance government did not carry on with the project. The then science, information and communications technology ministry initiated a new project at Kaliakoir in 2004, but it did nothing more than acquiring land.

Project officials concerned alleged that the World Bank, which is financing Tk200 crore in the project, had often caused problems by interrupting decisions.

In 2012, it decided to implement the project through public-private partnership and the Kuala Lumpur-based Kulim Technology Park Corporation became the top bidder in an international tender. l

The government failed to launch survey for hi-tech parks in six divisional cities and one district town due to unavailability of land as the scheduled time for survey ended on June 30, said official sources.

Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology now urged the finance ministry to extend the time to December.

The ministry sent a letter last week to the finance ministry seeking six months extension of survey time. Deputy Secretary Md Akter Hossain signed the letter The ministry, which signed a contract with a private firm for conducting survey, has sought Tk69 lakh last fiscal allocation for survey to be carried forward to the current fiscal year.

Land is unavailable in Khulna, Rangpur and Chittagong cities for the projects while a senior official said they received confirmation of land for Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal cities.

“We have received confirmation to get the land for construction of hi-tech parks in three divisional cities -Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal,” said Nazrul Islam Khan, Secretary to the ICT Division, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the textile mills authorities in Rangpur and Khulna assured that they would provide land for hi-tech projects in the cities.

Meanwhile, ministers from Chittagong also said they would manage land for construction of hi-tech park in Chittagong, according to official sources.

FBCCI and Cocoro of Japan sign deal to boost trade n Tribune Report The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday signed a letter of cooperation with Cocoro Limited of Japan to strengthen cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.

FBCCI Secretary General Mir Shahabuddin Mohammad and managing director of Cocoro Ltd. Ms Yukari Sujuki signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at a function at the FBCCI, said a press release. FBCCI

President Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed and Chairman of Cocoro Ltd. Taku Furukawa were present at the function.

Cocoro Ltd will help Bangladesh expand its market in Japan and boost Japanese investment in Bangladesh.

Under the agreement, Cocoro will play role in strengthening relations of Japanese investors, trade bodies and firms with Bangladesh private sector players by exchanging necessary information. It will also assist the FBCCI in holding trade related seminars, conferences in Japan. l

A young girl choosing dress for her to celebrate the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. The picture was taken from a city mall yesterday

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

IPOs bump on road, but wheels running n Kayes Sohel

IPO market showed sluggish activity in the first half of 2014 compared to the first half of 2013 – a year when record number of IPOs hit the stock market.

A total of Tk168 crore has been raised by six companies listed with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in the first half of 2014 and of the six, textile companies accounted for half of all IPOs, according to DSE data.

That is slower than the fastest half of 2013 in terms of number of IPOs and raising fund, the data said.

Nine companies, mostly small ones, in the first half of last year raised Tk200 crore. The year 2013 opened at a frantic pace after three years of drought since 2010 when the market boomed and then busted, but the trend failed to continue at the end of 2013.

Industry people attributed the slowed-down growth of IPOs to the “go slow strategy” by the regulator, creating backlog in the IPOs. When IPOs increase, it usually means the economy is getting back its strength, but in our country, the perception is not true as most of the com-

NO OF IPOs IN H1 2005

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 *Source: DSE

3 5 6 3 7 5 5 6 9 6

panies here raise fund through IPOs to make loan repayments, they said.

“It is a pause in IPO flow due mainly to regulator’s slow policy,” said Md Jahangir Miah, chief executive of Janata Capital and Investment Limited.

“But wheels of IPOs with good quality should always keep on, which helps

market remain cool,” he said.

Though investors are showing appetite in the primary market, the regulator is approving the IPO slowly considering the market situation, said a market player.

The IPO market was sluggish since the beginning of 2010 when the market boomed and then doomed as the regulator has tried to limit new issues.

However, in 2013 it got some pace.

Since 2005 in Bangladesh stock market, IPO activity began rising to tap the primary markets, taking advantage of growing demand for shares.

Primary market is a market where securities issued by a company for the first time are offered to the public before being listed with the stock exchange.

IPO is used by companies to raise capital, to possibly monetise the investments of early private investors, and to become publicly traded enterprises.

Around 40 companies are awaiting the regulator’s nod to go public under fixed price method and the remaining two under the book building method, sources at the BSEC said.

“The regulator takes a stance to approve two IPOs every month taking the present market into account,” said a BSEC official.

Among the proposed IPOs, mostly small cap companies particularly from textile, power, pharmaceuticals, real estate, insurance, engineering and cement sectors.

The companies which are in the pipe line to go public included Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort, Ananda Shipping and Slipways, IFAD Autos, ML Dyeing, Shamsul Alamin Real Estate, Otobi, Genuity Systems, Alliance Holdings, Aman Feed, BMSL Investment, Doreen Power Generations and Systems Shasha Denims, Energypac Power Generation, Aman Cotton Fibrous, Aman Cement Mills, Simtex Industries, Tosrifa Industries, KDS Accessories, United Power Generation and Distribution, Express Insurance, SBS Cables, and Hamid Fabrics, Hemple Rhee Mfg (BD), Mohammad Elias Brothers POY Manufacturing Plant, Arian Chemicals, Dragong Sweater and Spinning, Yeakin Polymer, Mymco Jute Mills (Composite), National Feed Mill, Zaheen Spinning and MP Spinning. l

DSE shareholders suffer from sense of deprivation

BASIC to seek fresh fund

n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

n Tribune Report

A section of shareholders of the newly dimutualised Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has been suffering from a sense of deprivation as they have to pay much higher rent for space in Motijheel commercial area than the fortunate ones who housed their office in the DSE building.

It created a dispute, as a result, among the shareholders or the Trading Right Entitlement Certificate (TREC) holders.

Around 70 TREC holders are paying only Tk4 per square feet as their rent at the DSE-owned building while the other holders are to pay up to Tk80 per square feet at any buildings in the commercial area.

The monthly rate was much lower than other shareholders, who had failed to get any accommodation at the DSE building.

Meanwhile, the DSE itself is pay-

ing Tk32 per square feet as rent for its own offices located adjacent to the DSE building. Even after demutulisation, more than eight month back, the shareholders are paying the same rent what they paid as owners of the DSE, according to sources.

“They (shareholders) are still entitled to receive such benefits, as they will remain as owners of the DSE until and unless selling of its 60% share to the public as per demutulisation law is done,” DSE managing director Swapan Kumar Bala told the Dhaka Tribune.

Moreover, even after demutulisation, DSE is giving subsidy worth Tk50,000 per month to the DSE club from where the TREC holders are enjoying the foods and others facilities.

According to a DSE spurge, stock exchange provided over Tk6.50 lakh as service charge for the club as of May. The DSE also paid TK2.5 crore for the insurance facilities of the DSE shareholders. Whether the issues go against the

demutulisation rules, Bala, however, said: “It is purely a promotional service and there is nothing wrong with it.”

A TREC holder, who is one of those 70 shareholders, receiving the rental benefits, has admitted he had been enjoying the rent of his space at Tk4 per square feet, which was not justified in comparison with other commercial spaces.

After the demutualisation, a TREC holder is entitled to enjoy the profits only as per the scheme although some recent activities have gone against the law and they were unable to talk on the issues because of some influential TREC holders, he added.

Khwaja Ghulam Rasul, director of the DSE, said: “The rent should be reset as the other shareholders, who failed to get a space at the DSE-owned building, have also the same rights to get the same benefits what other shareholders are enjoying.”

Another TREC holder who has to

pay Tk80 per square feet at a high-rise building at Motijheel alleged that influential and powerful TREC holders are enjoying the benefits even after the demutualisation.

As per the Demutualisation Act -2013, the brokerage houses will hold 40% share of DSE after the demutualisation of a bourse.

The rest 60% will be kept for TREC holders, strategic investors and individuals. Strategic investors will not be allowed to hold more than 25% stake of a stock exchange, while no individual will hold more than 5%.

On November last year, the DSE turned into demutualised exchange that ensures separation of the bourses’ management from ownership to bring transparency and accountability in the market.

Its objective is also to transform the bourse from its current non-profit and cooperative state into profit-oriented entities. l

Italian textiles struggle to weave a new spell n Reuters

Italy has fallen behind two groups of rivals in recent years: high-tech, high-end competitors in countries such as Germany and the United States, and low-end producers in places like China, Bangladesh and Turkey.

The best place to see the latter is in Italy’s textile industry. A central driver of the country’s economic

growth in the 20th century, Italian fabric manufacturers have struggled since globalization opened the sector to cheap Asian competition at the end of the 1990s. Though Italy’s fabric industry has improved productivity in recent years, it has not been able to compete on wages.

The result is fewer jobs, lower living standards and abandoned factories, such as a trail of empty shells along the Seriana Valley

outside the northern Italian city of Bergamo. The area prospered from textiles for more than a century.

Until 20 years ago most locals either built or operated the machines that transformed cotton into thread, or thread into curtains, sheets, towels and clothes.

Now people are lucky if they can find a job in Bergamo. Children move out of the valley (current population: 130,000) as soon as they

can, leaving a dwindling and rapidly ageing local population.

Italy remains the world’s third-largest exporter of clothes and fabrics. But its market share has halved to just 4% since 2000, while employment in textiles has fallen every year for 25 years. It is now around 60% of what it was in 1990, down 370,000 jobs, according to employers’ association Confindustria. l

The newly constructed board of directors of BASIC Bank would seek funds from the government to run the bank now facing fund shortage due to credit scam, said a senior official of the bank.

The board yesterday took the resolution at its first meeting after restructuring at its headquarters in Dhaka.

The board has been restructured due to allegation of credit scams.

Presided over by the bank chairman Alauddin A. Majid, Directors Begum Parag, Hasan Mahmood, Begum Raihana Aneesa Yusuf Ali, MamunAl-Rashid, Mojib Uddin Ahmed and Bangladesh Bank appointed observer Ashok Kumer Dey were present.

“We need fresh fund to run the bank,” said Mojib Uddin Ahmed, spokesman of the bank.

The chairman will discuss the issue with the central bank soon as the board has found the bank has no condition to

run without new fund, he said.

The board formed three committees, including an Executive Committee headed by Alauddin A. Majid and an audit committee headed by Mojib Uddin Ahmed.

“We have formed the committees to make a recovery plan for the bank, following the central bank instruction,” said Mojib.

He said the board already asked the CEO (in charge) Fazlus Sobhan and other officials to submit necessary information to go for action, following the Bangladesh Bank guideline.

“We would not go for the action against the corrupt officials just now as we need more information,” he said.

The government has appointed Alauddin A. Majid as the new chairman on July 6 and four new directors on July 7, after resignation of previous chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu due to allegations of financial irregularities of Tk4500 crore in the bank. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock

Stocks end 9-day losses

DSE key features July 14, 2014

n Tribune Report

Traded Issues

291

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

179

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

108

'Investors showed up with strong position from the beginning of the trading session mostly in pharmaceuticals, engineering and fuel stocks' The benchmark DSEX rose 33 points or 0.8% to end at 4,377.

The Shariah Index DSES was up 8 points to 998. The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,606, rising 11 points or 0.7%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, gained 35 points to 8,328.

But lackluster trading continued as turnover still hovered around Tk200 core. The DSE turnover stood at Tk186 crore, an increase of 24%

1,861.11 46,150,172 49,501

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,277.40

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.60

CSE key features July 14, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

141.78

Turnover (Volume)

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

Company

Number of Contract

over the previous session’s value.

All the major sectors closed in green with power and telecommunication gaining the most among the large cap sectors.

Lanka Bangla Securities said investors showed up with strong position from the beginning of the trading session mostly in pharmaceuticals, engineering and fuel stocks.

Among the major sectors, cement, engineering and miscellaneous sector led the market with 2.5%, 2% and 2.9% return respectively, it said.

Zenith Investments said after several lackluster sessions, market after a long time, got off to a solid start. Although the bulls made a statement, however, the total turnover volume was still fragile than any other normal trading day, it said.

“Looking ahead, investors should still remain cautious as sudden movements in market for a single day is not enough to define a particular trend.”

Out of 291 issues traded, 193 advanced, 56 declined, and 42 remained unchanged.

Beximco Ltd was the top turnover list followed by Grameenphone, Squre Pharmaceuticals, Olympic Industries and Apolo Ispat. l

Stocks gained yesterday, breaking their nine days of losing streak as investors availed the lower prices.

The market opened higher and the trend continued till close of the trade riding on modest buying of particularly power, telecommunication and cement issues.

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

4,651,141

Number of Contract

6,900

4376.89942

(+) 0.75%

▲

Traded Issues

195

998.12014

(+) 0.79%

▲

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

122

1606.48451

(+) 0.70%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

69

CSE All Share Index:

13476.06770

(+) 0.61%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

CSE - 30 Index :

11244.41130

(+) 0.71%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,187.41

8328.80380

(+) 0.43%

▲

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.51

DSE Shariah Index : DSE - 30 Index :

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS

Midas Financing-Z Stylecraft -A Continental Insur. -A Takaful Islami Insu-A Premier Leasing-Z B I F C -A Phoenix Insur -A ICB Islamic Bank-Z

-7.56 -6.23 -3.24 -2.84 -2.70 -2.26 -2.19 -2.00

Average (% change) -7.97 -6.23 -3.23 -2.31 -2.94 -3.10 -1.01 -0.60

Karnaphuli Insur -A Nitol Insurance -A

-2.00 -1.82

-5.83 -1.34

Company

Closing (% change)

CSE LOSERS

GQ Ball PenA National Life I -A Prime Islami Life -A JMI Syringes MDL-A Hakkani P& Paper -B Paramount Insur-A Asia Insur. Ltd.-A S.B. 1st M. F.-A

-6.20 -4.51 -3.48 -3.27 -3.02 -2.86 -2.54 -2.44

Average (% change) -6.42 -4.51 -3.42 -3.28 -3.13 -2.19 -2.79 -2.32

B I F C -A Sandhani Life -A

-2.22 -2.05

-4.76 -2.09

Company

Closing (% change)

ANALYST

Closing average

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 130.66 45.91 20.05 185.61 129.50 144.43 0.54 125.66 349.67 0.20 48.76 14.83 9.35 98.06 6.31 40.49 36.34 159.90 65.83 248.58 0.42

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Latest PE

20.78 958.30 20.98 27.44 7.27 13.13 31.50 4.97

20.80 958.30 20.90 27.40 7.20 13.00 31.20 4.90

21.50 958.30 21.80 27.60 7.50 13.50 32.20 5.10

20.30 958.30 20.60 27.30 6.80 13.00 31.20 4.80

0.426 0.096 0.556 0.782 0.904 2.174 4.882 0.306

-6.91 26.16 3.00 1.76 0.12 0.24 3.00 -1.12

-ve 36.6 7.0 15.6 60.6 54.7 10.5 -ve

19.53 27.20

19.60 27.00

20.70 27.50

18.50 26.00

3.639 0.030

1.40 3.24

14.0 8.4

Closing average

Closing

Daily high

Turnover in million

Daily low

Latest EPS

Fine Foods A Fareast Finance-Z BD. Thai Alum -B Meghna PET Ind. -Z BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Imam Button -Z Beximco Pharma -A Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Wata Chemicals -A Janata Insur -A

116.40 220.10 80.40 153.80 25.70 17.00 19.20 8.00

117.20 221.00 84.00 155.00 26.90 17.00 19.80 8.10

116.10 220.00 80.10 153.10 25.00 15.80 19.00 8.00

0.134 0.836 0.247 0.384 0.193 0.009 0.029 0.208

2.81 12.46 4.95 2.08 0.28 1.64 1.56 1.33

41.4 17.7 16.3 73.9 91.7 10.3 12.3 6.0

13.21 76.37

13.20 76.40

13.60 80.00

13.00 75.00

0.186 0.050

0.24 2.66

55.0 28.7

Investors should still remain cautious as sudden movements in market for a single day is not enough to define a particular trend

% change 7.02 2.47 1.08 9.97 6.96 7.76 0.03 6.75 18.79 2.62 0.80 0.50 5.27 0.34 2.18 1.95 8.59 3.54 13.36 0.02

Million Taka 12.39 3.75 1.22 12.37 8.02 13.62 16.69 23.43 10.65 1.38 10.83 0.67 8.84 0.36 0.38 2.92 6.00 13.78 25.87 0.00

% change 7.15 2.16 0.70 7.15 4.63 7.87 0.00 9.64 13.53 6.15 0.79 6.25 0.39 5.11 0.21 0.22 1.69 3.46 7.96 14.94 0.00

Million Taka 143.05 49.66 21.27 197.99 137.52 158.06 0.54 142.35 373.11 10.85 50.14 25.66 10.02 106.90 6.67 40.87 39.26 165.89 79.60 274.45 0.42

Total

8.55 8.33 7.69 7.27 6.90 6.33 5.49 5.26 5.02 4.76

CSE GAINERS Company Sonargaon Tex -Z Fareast Finance-Z BD. Thai Alum -B Fine Foods A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Ambee Pharma -A MeghnaCement -A Eastern Bank - A Eastern InsurA

Closing (% change) 9.41 8.33 7.66 7.19 6.58 6.38 6.35 6.27 5.69 5.59

Average (% change) 6.12 4.36 5.26 7.27 8.24 5.79 4.03 5.26 1.84 5.18 Average (% change) 10.06 4.76 4.79 7.46 8.60 6.43 6.22 6.27 6.00 9.80

Closing average 16.29 10.29 27.61 5.90 33.50 8.41 43.41 8.00 221.42 17.66

Closing average 9.30 10.12 27.33 16.42 33.48 115.00 272.61 117.00 29.67 32.94

Closing 16.50 10.40 28.00 5.90 34.10 8.40 44.20 8.00 223.70 17.60

Closing 9.30 10.40 28.10 16.40 34.00 115.00 273.00 117.00 29.70 34.00

Daily high 16.60 10.50 28.40 5.90 34.40 8.60 44.50 8.00 230.20 18.20

Daily high 9.30 9.90 28.40 16.70 34.30 115.00 273.00 117.00 29.90 34.00

Daily low 15.00 9.80 23.50 5.90 28.80 8.20 37.80 8.00 210.00 16.00

Daily low 9.30 10.00 25.90 16.00 32.00 115.00 253.00 117.00 29.50 30.00

Turnover in million 3.898 5.062 14.127 0.003 226.632 0.290 79.649 0.002 4.497 0.189

Turnover in million 0.009 1.179 0.412 0.353 24.526 0.023 0.028 0.035 0.599 0.009

Latest EPS -1.01 0.12 0.84 -1.33 1.12 -1.85 3.60 -30.63 6.24 1.40

Latest EPS -0.92 0.12 0.84 -1.01 1.12 0.92 3.20 7.00 4.72 3.44

Latest PE -ve 85.8 32.9 -ve 29.9 -ve 12.1 -ve 35.5 12.6

Latest PE -ve 84.3 32.5 -ve 29.9 125.0 85.2 16.7 6.3 9.6

News, analysis and recent disclosers GBBPOWER: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 30.06.2014 (Jan'14 to June'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 65.25 million with EPS of Tk. 0.77 as against Tk. 60.40 million and Tk. 0.72 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 34.94 million with EPS of Tk. 0.41 for the period of 3 months (Apr'14 to June'14) ended on 30.06.2014 as against Tk. 33.92 million and Tk. 0.40 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

PUBALIBANK: National Credit Ratings Limited (NCR) has announced the rating of the Company as "AA" in the long term and "ST-1" in the short term based on audited financial statements of the Company of December 31, 2013.

FEDERALINS: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on December 31, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Account on July 13, 2014.

BDTHAI: Bangladesh Thai Aluminium Ltd.

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A Olympic Ind. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Beximco Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z

CSE

Closing (% change)

has informed that the Bonus shares of the Company for the year 2013 have already been credited through CDBL to the respective shareholders' BO A/Cs on 14 July 2014.

RUPALILIFE: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on July 16, 2014 at 2:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

SQURPHARMA: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on July 17, 2014 at 2:30 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on March 31, 2014.

Dividend/AGM SANDHANINS: 25.50% stock, EGM and AGM: 06.09.2014, Record Date for EGM and AGM: 16.07.2014.

RECKITTBEN: Interim cash @ 275% , Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 07.07.2014.

BDSERVICE: 15% stock, AGM: 25.08.2014, Record Date: 14.07.2014.

NATLIFEINS: 20% cash and 38% stock, AGM: 21.07.2014, Record Date: 03.07.2014.

MEGHNALIFE: 20% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 17.07.2014, Record Date: 30.06.2014.

DELTALIFE: 11% cash and 25% stock, AGM and EGM: 20.07.2014, Record date for AGM and EGM: 25.06.2014.

LAFSURCEML: 5% interim cash, Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 30.06.2014.

ASIAINS: 15% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 16.07.2014, Record Date: 19.06.2014.

SALVOCHEM: 10% stock, AGM: 27.08.2014, Record date: 25.06.2014.

CMCKAMAL: 12.50% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. Record Date: 29.05.2014.

ISLAMIINS: 15% stock, AGM: 09.07.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

JMISMDL: 15% cash, AGM: 24.07.2014, RD: 22.05.2014.

SUMITPOWER: 15% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. RD: 18.05.2014.

Latest PE

116.41 220.11 80.45 153.78 25.67 16.97 19.15 8.01

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Daily high

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

% change 7.03 2.44 1.05 9.73 6.76 7.77 0.03 7.00 18.34 0.53 2.46 1.26 0.49 5.26 0.33 2.01 1.93 8.15 3.91 13.49 0.02

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Eastern Housing -A Renata Ltd. -A FAR Chemical-N

UNITED AIR-A The Peninsula CTG.-N Padma Oil Co. -A HeidelbergCement -A BSRM Steels-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Square Pharma -A UNITED AIR-A Appollo Ispat CL -N The Peninsula CTG.-N LafargeS Cement-Z FAR Chemical-N GBB Power Ltd-A Beximco Pharma -A Grameenphone-A BD Submarine Cable-A G Next Fashions-A National Bank - A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A AramitCementA

Volume shares 6,764,734 478,869 425,182 410,002 2,773,400 1,834,930 671,500 772,159 46,043 744,000

2,573,316 881,000 93,186 52,450 333,128

Volume shares

732,473 33,030 602,203 246,200 177,600 70,500 106,500 179,400 77,678 10,400 16,225 145,866 226,960 106,000 42,000

Value in million 226.63 141.77 117.76 96.40 80.20 79.65 53.19 45.53 40.80 33.89

32.75 29.66 28.77 26.56 26.18

Value in million

24.53 9.16 7.65 7.11 5.96 5.62 4.80 4.14 3.39 3.07 2.92 2.57 2.48 2.46 1.80

% of total turnover 12.18 7.62 6.33 5.18 4.31 4.28 2.86 2.45 2.19 1.82

1.76 1.59 1.55 1.43 1.41

% of total turnover

17.96 6.70 5.60 5.21 4.37 4.11 3.52 3.03 2.48 2.25 2.14 1.88 1.82 1.80 1.32

Daily closing 34.10 295.70 275.70 233.10 29.00 44.20 79.60 58.70 891.10 44.50

12.70 33.50 307.90 507.10 79.10

Daily closing

34.00 275.80 12.70 29.00 33.50 79.90 44.70 23.30 43.90 295.30 180.00 17.60 10.90 23.10 43.00

Price change 6.90 0.54 -0.51 -0.17 4.32 5.49 4.05 2.62 2.23 -0.67

Daily opening 31.90 294.10 277.10 233.50 27.80 41.90 76.50 57.20 871.70 44.80

Daily high 34.40 298.00 279.00 237.40 29.40 44.50 80.00 60.20 901.00 45.90

Price change

Daily opening

Daily high

2.42 2.13 0.20 -0.20 2.86

6.58 -0.83 2.42 4.32 1.82 4.17 0.45 4.48 4.28 -0.24 0.45 1.73 0.93 0.43 0.23

12.40 32.80 307.30 508.10 76.90

31.90 278.10 12.40 27.80 32.90 76.70 44.50 22.30 42.10 296.00 179.20 17.30 10.80 23.00 42.90

13.00 35.00 311.70 511.90 79.50

34.30 280.00 12.90 29.20 33.90 80.00 45.80 23.50 44.10 297.50 181.00 17.70 11.00 23.30 43.00

Daily low 28.80 290.00 253.00 216.00 28.00 37.80 76.60 55.00 865.00 44.10

Daily average 33.50 296.04 276.96 235.13 28.92 43.41 79.22 58.96 886.02 45.55

Daily low

Daily average

11.20 33.20 299.00 503.90 72.00

32.00 274.50 12.50 28.00 33.00 78.00 44.60 22.50 42.10 294.50 178.50 17.40 10.00 23.00 42.50

12.73 33.66 308.77 506.46 78.59

33.48 277.19 12.70 28.89 33.58 79.67 45.11 23.08 43.59 295.57 180.06 17.59 10.92 23.16 42.76

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Insurers struggle to get grip on burgeoning cyber risk market n Reuters, Paris

Insurers are eagerly eyeing exponential growth in the tiny cyber coverage market but their lack of experience and skills handling hackers and data breaches may keep their ambitions in check.

High profile cases of hackers seizing sensitive customer data from companies, such as U.S. retailer Target Corp or e-commerce company eBay Inc, have executives checking their insurance policies.

Increasingly, corporate risk managers are seeing insurance against cyber crime as necessary budget spending rather than just nice to have.

The insurance broking arm of Marsh & McLennan Companies estimates the US cyber insurance market was worth $1bn last year in gross written premiums and could reach as much as $2bn this year. The European market is currently a fraction of that, at around $150m, but is growing by 50 to 100% annually, according to Marsh.

Those numbers represent a sliver of the overall insurance market, which is growing at a far more sluggish rate.

Premiums are set to grow only 2.8% this year in inflation-adjusted terms, according to Munich Re, the world’s biggest reinsurer.

The European cyber coverage market could get a big boost from draft EU data protection rules in the works that would force companies to disclose breaches of customer data to them.

“Companies have become aware that the risk of being hacked is unavoidable,” said Andreas Schlayer, responsible for cyber risk insurance at Munich Re. “People are now more aware that hackers can attack and do great damage to central infrastructure, for example in the energy sector.”

Insurers, which have more experience handling risks like hurricanes and fires, are now rushing to gain expertise in cyber technology.

“It is a difficult risk to price by traditional insurance methods as there

Oil rebounded in Asia yesterday on bargain hunting following sharp falls last week stoked by the prospect of a revival in Libyan supplies.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery was up nine cents to $100.92 in mid-morning trade.

It declined $2.1 in New York trade Friday.

Brent crude for August advanced 18 cents to $106.84 after falling $2.01 in London trade.

Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani declared earlier this month that authorities had regained control of two export terminals blockaded by rebels demanding autonomy in the country’s eastern region.

The ports at Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra could add about 500,000 barrels of crude per day to global energy markets, analysts say.

Output in Sharara, the site of Libya’s

n AFP, Tokyo

currently is not statistically significant actuarial data available,” said Robert Parisi, head of cyber products at insurance brokers Marsh.

Andrew Braunbergon, research director at US cybersecurity advisory company NSS Labs, said that some energy companies have trouble persuading insurers to provide them with cyber coverage as the industry is vulnerable to hacking attacks that could trigger disasters like an explosion in a worst-case scenario.

Pricing on policies for retailers has climbed in the wake of recent high-profile breaches at Target, Neiman Marcus, and other merchants, he added.

A necessary cost

Though still very much in its infancy, the market’s potential is vast with cyber crime costing the global economy about $445bn every year, according to an estimate last month from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

While many companies have in the past counted on their general commercial liability policies for coverage, they are increasingly taking out standalone contracts.

One reason for the change in attitude is a New York state court ruling in February against Sony Corp. The company, which has appealed the decision, had sought to force providers of its general commercial liability insurance to foot the bill for class action lawsuits following a major 2011 cyber attack on Sony PlayStation Network.

“This issue with Sony is that it did not have a standalone cyber product,” said Peter Beshar, general counsel at the Marsh & McLennan Companies.

Target was better protected when some 40 million payment card numbers were stolen last year. It had $100m in cyber insurance, according to the trade publication Business Insurance.

With low interest rates limiting revenues from insurers’ vast bond portfolios, the extra underwriting income from the fast growing new market is all

Oil prices rebound in Asia n AFP, Singapore

Yen weakens in Asia as Bank of Japan starts meeting

largest oil field, is reaching its maximum production capacity of 340,000 barrels, just days after it reopened following a deal between rebels and the government.

Investors were also looking out for a slew of economic indicators due to be released this week, starting with inflation data from Europe and US retail sales on Tuesday, said Desmond Chua, an analyst with CMC Markets in Singapore.

China, the world’s second biggest economy, will release GDP and industrial production figures on Wednesday, while Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen will conclude a testimony before the US Congress on the same day.

Yellen’s remarks as well as upcoming corporate earnings reports in the United States will be monitored for hints on the health of the world’s biggest economy and top oil consuming nation, analysts said. l

BRAC Nursery has recent been awarded the first prize at National Tree Fair 2014 for maintaining good standards in plant varieties, display, customer service and overall presentation. The organisation’s senior general manager Md Mahtabul Haq received the award from Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, deputy minister of the Ministry of Environment and Forests

A lock icon, signifying an encrypted Internet connection, is seen on an Internet Explorer browser in a photo illustration in Paris the more welcome.

The cost of cyber insurance varies depending, but on average $1m in protection ranges from about $20,000 to $25,000, according to Beshar.

German insurance giant Allianz says its premiums for 10-50m euros in protection run about 50,000-90,000 euros in annual premiums. For protection of over 50 million euros, companies can get coverage up to 300m euros through co-insurance policies involving multiple underwriters.

Whether insurers are offering coverage at prices commensurate with the risks is anyone’s guess as long as underwriters have scant experience with hackers.

Growing pains

AXA, Europe’s second biggest insurer, is making a big push into the cyber insurance market, but has so far not paid out a single business claim.

“I would like to see a successful claim, because that would be an experience,” said Philippe Derieux, deputy CEO of AXA’s global property and causality business.

AXA is hiring computer experts and engineers to build up a centralized cyber team, but Derieux said there is a shortage of qualified talent.

“It is hard for insurers and brokers to find people able to handle the product,” Munich Re’s Schlayer said.

REUTERS

That lack of expertise means insurers are failing to identify high-risk clients, because they are not undertaking sufficiently rigorous security evaluations before writing cyber policies, said Bryan Rose, managing director with Stroz Friedberg, a firm that investigates cyber attacks.

This leaves the insurers vulnerable to underpricing their policies.

They often simply ask clients to fill out limited questionnaires that asking whether they have proper security procedures in place, rather than conducting thorough security audits, Rose said.

“There’s a real risk that insurance companies are not appropriately pricing the risk,” Rose said. l

The yen weakened in Asian trade yesterday as the Bank of Japan kicked off a two-day policy meeting, with investors also eyeing testimony from the head of the US Federal Reserve this week.

In Tokyo midday trading, the greenback rose 101.37 yen, up from 101.23 yen in New York on Friday, while the euro strengthened to 137.89 yen from 137.78 yen in US trading.

The euro was nearly flat against the dollar at $1.3602 from $1.3604.

The Japanese central bank was widely expected to stand pat on any fresh policy moves after its meeting wraps up Tuesday.

But investors are increasingly betting on the likelihood that the BoJ will make a move later in the year after growth slowed following sales tax rise in April -- more monetary easing by the BoJ would likely further weaken the yen.

Markets are also eager to see what Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen says to Congress about the state of the US economy and the likely timeline for raising interest rates as the central bank winds down its five-year stimulus campaign.

Yellen is to deliver the bank’s semiannual report on the economy and monetary policy to Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fresh data including US factory output and retail sales are also due this week.

“On the calendar there is plenty to digest this week,” Credit Agricole said.

“Hard data in the US, including retail sales (Tuesday), industrial production (Wednesday) and a pack of housing data, likely improved further.”

China’s latest GDP figures, due Wednesday, along with a string of other data are also in focus as markets look for clues about the strength of the world’s number two economy. l

Fed officials debate timing of interest rate increases n Reuters A debate is intensifying among the Federal Reserve’s regional bank presidents about whether to push interest rates up from zero sooner than planned because of recent improvements in the US job market, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Most Fed officials at June’s policy meeting didn’t see rate increases until 2015, according to projections made before the Labor Department reported on July 3 that the jobless rate fell to 6.1% in June, the Journal said in an article posted late on Friday.

Fed officials hadn’t expected unemployment to fall to near 6.1% until the end of this year.

“We have made more progress toward our unemployment goals than we would have thought” earlier this year, San Francisco Federal Reserve President John Williams told the Journal.

He added that this development “suggests that monetary policy can safely start the process of normaliza-

tion a touch earlier” than previously expected.

He didn’t specify when that would be, but has said in the past he sees the first Fed rate increase in the second half of 2015, the Journal reported.

His comments are notable, the Journal said, because Williams tends to be in the camp of Fed officials, often

Fed does start moving rates up sooner, he noted, it wouldn’t be substantially sooner than previously thought.

Meanwhile, Fed hawks are becoming more vocal about wanting earlier interest-rate increases.

“We need to adjust the language in our statement to reflect that the economy really is better that it was, and that

We need to adjust the language in our statement to reflect that the economy really is better that it was, and that the necessity of having zero interest rates for a long time to come seems to me to be perhaps a risky or unnecessary step at this point called doves, who want to keep interest rates low, in contrast to the hawks who consistently call for higher rates to tamp down inflationary pressures.

Williams said the shift in his view was not a “game changer” because he still believes there is “quite a bit” of slack in the economy holding inflation down, the Journal reported. If the

the necessity of having zero interest rates for a long time to come seems to me to be perhaps a risky or unnecessary step at this point,” Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser told the Journal.

St. Louis Fed President James Bullard has been warning that market participants might not appreciate how

quickly the economy is converging toward the Fed’s goals of maximum employment and stable prices, the Journal said.

A year ago, Bullard noted, Fed officials thought the jobless rate would be 7% by now and the central bank would be finished with a massive program of mortgage and Treasury bond purchases meant to spur hiring and investment.

Instead, the jobless rate is almost a full percentage point lower than expected and bond purchases haven’t been completed.

“Things have moved a little faster than the (Fed policymaking) committee was anticipating, but our policy hasn’t reacted to that,” Bullard told the Journal.

Bullard thinks the Fed should start moving rates up in the first quarter of 2015 and said he’s leaning toward an earlier projection if he gains confidence the economy has firmly rebounded from its first-quarter slump, the Journal said. l

Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited recently held its half yearly conference for its managers at a convention hall in Dhaka. The bank’s CEO and managing director Abu Sadek Md Sohel presided over the meeting while the bank’s chair Md Yousuf Ali Howlader attended the meeting as chief guest

City Bank recently inked an agreement with Trans-Fast Worldwide Money Transfer LLC, USA, which will make the bank’s customers to send money from any part of the world using Trans-Fast’s widely, spread network to any of City Bank branches accorss the country.

The bank’s deputy managing director Shiekh Mohammad Maroof and Mohammad Khairuzzaman, country head of Trans-Fast, Bangladesh have signed the agreement

DBBL holds workshop on prevention of money laundering n Tribune Business Desk NCC Bank Ltd has recently concluded a two-day long half yearly conference of its branch managers and executives held in Dhaka. The bank’s chairperson Md Nurun Newaz Salim inaugurated the conference as chief guest

Islami Insurance Bangladesh Limited recently held its 14th annual general meeting in Dhaka. The company’s chairperson Mohammad Sayeed presided over the meeting where its shareholders approved 15% stock dividend for the year 2013

Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) has recently organised a daylong workshop for its officials on prevention of money

laundering and ways to combat terrorist financing.

The bank’s managing director KS Tabrez inaugurated the workshop held at the bank’s training wing in Dhaka. l

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As some high-risk assets take a hit, investors fear worse is to come n Reuters World financial markets became reacquainted with fear last week, and even if it was short-lived, the ructions in some riskier assets looked to some like a precursor to a much rougher ride down the road.

Concerns that Portugal’s largest listed bank, Banco Espirito Santo was badly exposed to its owners’ accounting problems raised eyebrows in Europe and the US, getting investors to ask whether there were more shoes to drop in European banking.

Also some excess speculation that has been building up in various corners has bubbled over. Examples included the halt in trading in the stock of a company, Cynk Technology, with no assets or revenue, that had soared to a $6.4bn market value, and the sudden collapse of Spanish wireless provider Gowex after a massive accounting fraud.

Add in the big reversal in fortunes for some companies who recently did US IPOs, plus Puerto Rico’s increasingly troubled debt picture, and it was tempting to remember Warren Buffett’s old saying: “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.”

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn said he has become very wary. “In my mind, it is time to be cautious about the US stock markets,” he said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “While we are having a great year, I am being very selective about the companies I purchase.”

It all comes against a backdrop of anxiety about whether global markets and economies are resilient enough to cope when the US Federal Reserve takes the punch bowl away by ending its bond buying program and then starts to raise interest rates – probably next year - for the first time since 2006.

The sense of complacency that had set in among many investors has begun to disappear. Small-cap US stocks fell more than 4 percent last week, their worst one-week performance in more than two years, while Spain’s Banco Popular postponed a bond offering and Greece could only place about half of what it wanted in a debt sale.

What’s unclear is whether this is all about a short-lived, modest correction in some high-risk assets that had gotten out of control, or if its a harbinger of something more dramatic to come.

Some are confident there will be a correction.

“I don’t care if it’s Portugal, Ukraine, Russia or the Fed, markets are due for at least a pause or potentially a 10 to 12% pullback on a trading basis,” said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial in St Petersburg, Florida.

A correction of about 10% would generally be welcomed by large institutional managers, as the S&P 500 has not dropped by that amount in about

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Samsung halts business with supplier in China on child labour concern n Reuters, Seoul

People use automated teller machines (ATMs) of Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo in downtown Lisbon three years. In recent weeks it has come within range of the 2,000 mark for the first time ever, having nearly tripled from its lows in 2009 during the financial crisis.

Far from panicking

The concerns about Banco Espirito Santo may have crystallized fears some investors have about overheated credit markets but panic is far from setting in.

European government debt is still trading at levels not far from US debt.

Italy last week completed a sale of 7.5bn euros, with the three-year and 15-year debt sales hitting their lowest yields in the euro’s lifetime.

And while some of the optimism in the junk debt market has started to fade, the bears are far from taking over.

The spread on the riskiest US high-yield corporate bonds, those rated triple-C or less, has widened by about 0.35 percentage point against benchmark Treasuries since June 23, according to Bank of America-Merrill Lynch data, but the levels are still not far from their tightest since 2007.

“This correction only serves as a reminder that nothing is yet fixed in the euro zone and that, no matter how much money the ECB (European Central Bank) ends up printing, it will not jump-start the euro zone’s economies,” said Phoebus Theologites, chief investment officer at SteppenWolf Capital in Lucerne, Switzerland. “But this does not mean we will get contagion or a crash,” he added.

Low borrowing rates across the globe, balance sheets that are in generally good shape for deal making or stock buybacks, and profits that are growing modestly in the U.S. and beyond are all

reasons not to get too scared. Even valuations aren’t that stretched on some historical measurements.

Brian Reynolds, chief market strategist at Rosenblatt Securities, pointed out that pension funds and others have been steadily pouring money into corporate credit, even in what’s usually a slow month of July.

High-yield issuer General Motors Financial borrowed $1.5bn last week while US power company Calpine Corp refinanced $2.8bn in high-yield bonds.

Overall, 2014 has seen high yield issuance of $183.6bn so far, on pace for the busiest year ever, according to Thomson Reuters.

“Credit booms are littered with defaults,” Reynolds said in reference to some recent problems. “So it’s not a big deal. But the last five years has shown that if people want to panic for a few weeks, they may.”

He says the S&P 500 could undoubtedly correct in coming days, pulling back to 1950 or even 1900, but the steady flows into corporate credit that has funded stock buybacks should keep the stock-market rally going for several more years.

David Joy, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial in Boston, where he helps oversee $771bn in assets under management, says the jitters evinced in equities may be an early taste of the kind of reaction investors should expect when the Fed reaches the point of raising rates.

He attributes the recent modest uptick in market volatility to statements from Fed officials concerned about the need to normalize Fed policy, by starting to raise rates, while they also expressed concern about “complacency” in the markets.

REUTERS

He expects the Fed could start raising rates about six months after the expected end to bond buying in October of this year.

Overheated prices

The easy money from the Fed and other central banks has helped lubricate more than just the equity and bond markets in recent years – whether the prices of sports teams and players, art or highend apartments around the world.

Some investment strategists are concerned that the “smart money” is getting out of some areas, leaving others to face potential losses. Jason Goepfert, founder of Sundial Capital Research, points out that about 60 percent of IPOs in the last six months have involved some sort of exit for venture capital or early-stage investors, a higher percentage than any time in the last several years.

There has been notable underperformance from some US companies that only first sold shares in the past year. Storage products retailer Container Store Group, which only went public in November, last week warned of weak forthcoming results; its stock has now lost almost half of the price it reached at the end of last year. Sandwich chain Potbelly Corp also disappointed investors after the initial euphoria there was during its October debut. It has now lost about two thirds of the value it reached then.

Twitter Inc, which sold shares to great fanfare in November, and saw its stock price almost triple in about seven weeks, has since dropped 48 percent.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to take profits here. I wouldn’t get out of the markets by any means, but there is a correction on the horizon somewhere,” Joy said. l

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said it halted business with a supplier in China over suspected use of child workers, the first time it has taken such a step, after criticism that its monitoring of labour practices at suppliers was inadequate.

The decision, announced yesterday, comes less than a week after US-based China Labor Watch said it found "at least five child workers" without contracts at the supplier and called Samsung's monitoring process to halt such practices "ineffective."

Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone maker, said it conducted three audits since 2013 of the supplier, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea's Shinyang Engineering Co Ltd, the latest of which ended on June 25.

But another investigation prompted by the watchdog's report led to evidence of what Samsung called suspected child labour, pointing to holes in the tech giant's ability to enforce its labour guidelines for Chinese suppliers.

"The Chinese authorities are also looking into the case," Samsung said in its statement yesterday.

It said it would permanently cut all ties with the supplier if the allegations were true, in line with its zero-tolerance policy on child workers.

Dongguan Shinyang Electronics and Shinyang Engineering could not be reached for comment despite multiple attempts to contact them by phone on Monday.

Labour practices at Samsung suppliers have come under scrutiny since 2012, when China Labor Watch said seven children younger than 16 were

Gold falls 1.5% on stronger equities, stop-loss selling n Reuters, Singapore Gold slid 1.5% yesterday in its biggest one-day drop in nearly seven weeks on selling from stop-loss orders and as Asian share markets gained strength.

Spot gold fell as much as 1.6% to $1,317.00 an ounce, and was at $1,318.11 by 0705 GMT. U.S. gold futures also fell 1.6%, while silver fell nearly 2%.

The sharp decline comes after gold posted its sixth straight weekly gain last week and after hitting $1,345 - its highest since March - last Thursday.

“Gold has been under pressure all day as equities have regained some of last week’s losses,” said one precious metals trader.

“There were some stops triggered after US gold futures breached $1,328, the price at which gold was trading at before the big move on Thursday,” the

Apple denies Chinese report of location tracking security risk

YouTube weighs funding efforts to boost premium content

n AFP, New York

n Reuters, Los Angeles

US technology giant Apple is fighting Chinese claims that the iPhone threatens national security through its ability to track and time-stamp a user’s location.

The frequent locations function, which can be switched on or off by users, is available on iOS 7, the operating system used by the current generation of iPhones released in September 2013.

“We appreciate CCTV’s effort to help educate customers on a topic we think is very important,” Apple said Saturday in a statement in Chinese and in English on its China website.

“We want to make sure all of our customers in China are clear about what we do and we don’t do when it comes to privacy and your personal data.”

Ma Ding, director of the Institute for Security of the Internet at People’s Public Security University in Beijing, told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Friday that the frequent locations function could be used to gather “extremely sensitive data,” and even state secrets.

But Apple strongly denied the claim.

“As we have stated before, Apple has

DILBERT

never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services,” it said.

“We have also never allowed access to our servers. And we never will. It’s something we feel very strongly about.”

Apple stressed that its phones used GPS geolocation services for practical purposes, such as helping a user find the closest restaurant, check the weather forecast or calculate travel time to work.

“It’s important to point out that during this collection process, an Apple device does not transmit any data that is uniquely associated with the device or the customer,” the California-based company said.

Users also have several tools available to deactivate their iPhone’s geolocation services. Ma gave the example of a journalist being tracked by the software as a demonstration of her fears over privacy.

The dispute is not the first time Apple has been embroiled in controversy in China, where its products are growing in popularity in a marketplace dominated by smartphones running Google’s Android operating system. l

YouTube has embarked on a new round of discussions with Hollywood and independent producers to fund premium content, two sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, a move that could bolster a three-year-old multimillion-dollar effort that has had mixed success so far.

The talks underscore Google Inc’s desire to complete YouTube’s transition from a repository for grainy home videos to a site sporting the more polished content crucial to securing higher-priced advertising.

Over the past two months, YouTube executives have begun making the rounds, talking to Hollywood producers to explore the kinds of support it could offer its content creators and produce more must-see programming, according to the two people.

Executives did not lay out exactly how a program would be structured.

One of the two people said the site may offer between $1m and $3m to produce a series of programs, and might contribute marketing funds as well.

The second person said the site was interested in videos shorter than the 30-minute, TV network-quality Web shows that Amazon.com Inc and other online sites have recently funded.

“We are always exploring various content and marketing ideas to support and accelerate our creators,” a YouTube representative said in an email. The site declined to comment on the meetings.

The latest round of discussions is in its initial phases and actual measures

working for one of the electronics giant's China-based suppliers.

Chinese labour law forbids hiring workers under 16.

The South Korean firm later said it found no evidence of child labour following those accusations, although acknowledging other problems including overtime hours in excess of regulations.

In November 2012, Samsung established a code of conduct for suppliers in line with standards set by the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition.

It also asked suppliers to sign a compliance agreement to prevent child labour.

Samsung also demands that suppliers adopt a strict hiring process that includes face-to-face interviews and the use of scanners to detect fake IDs to ensure no child labourers are employed.

In its annual sustainability report, published on June 30, the firm said a thirdparty audit of 100 Chinese suppliers found no instances of child labour.

The report cited other problems, however, with minors of legal working age but 18 or younger found working with chemical handling processes at 48 suppliers and a majority of suppliers not complying with China's laws on overtime.

Samsung said it demanded immediate action to correct such behaviour.

But China Labor Watch Executive Director Li Qiang said last week that Samsung's social responsibility reports were an "advertisement" and that its efforts so far had failed to bring improvements for workers.

"What Samsung says is not important; what's important is their actions," Li said. l

trader said. Gold climbed sharply on Thursday as worries about the financial stability of Portugal’s largest listed bank Banco Espirito Santo hammered equities and stoked fears of an European banking crisis.

But the fears have now faded, with Asian shares gaining yesterday as investors put aside concerns about euro zone banks and looked forward to corporate earnings and a raft of global economic events.

Another trader said troubles at the Portugal bank were unlikely to become a widespread European crisis.

Gold is seen as an alternative investment to riskier assets at times of geopolitical and financial uncertainties.

The metal has managed to stay above $1,300 an ounce in recent weeks on safe-haven bids arising from tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. l

Singapore’s economy unexpectedly contracts in second quarter

n AFP, Singapore

A picture illustration shows YouTube on a cell phone, in front of a YouTube copyright message regarding a video on an LCD screen, in central Bosnian town of Zenica REUTERS may never materialize, the sources said.

YouTube is by far the world’s most popular location for video streaming, with more than 1 billion unique visitors a month, far surpassing Netflix Inc and Amazon. But it is trying to lure more marketers for premium video advertising, boosting margins as overall prices for Google’s advertising declines.

YouTube set aside an estimated $100m in late 2011 to bankroll some 100 channels, though it never confirmed amounts spent or other details.

Beneficiaries of that largesse included Madonna and ESPN, as well as lesserknown creators. Reuters was one of the companies that received funds for a channel.

But few of those have garnered much mainstream attention.

“Over 115 of the channels launched as part of that initiative are now in the top 2% most-subscribed to channels on the platform,” a company representative said in an email.

YouTube has continued to provide backing for its content creators. It provides production facilities for creators, offers tips on how best to create content, and provides small amounts of funds for creators to test ideas.

The site also provides marketing support for online celebrities, including paying for billboards and TV ads for the likes of beauty blogger Michelle Phan and baker Rosanna Pansino. l

Singapore’s trade-reliant economy unexpectedly contracted in the second quarter, the government said yesterday, as weak global demand weighed on the key manufacturing sector.

Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank an annualised 0.8% on-quarter in the three months to June, according to advance trade ministry estimates that were below market expectations.

The decline was due to a 19.4% quarter-on-quarter contraction in the manufacturing sector, the trade ministry said, citing a fall in the output for electronic goods, a main export for the Southeast Asian city-state.

On a year-on-year comparison, GDP rose 2.1%, but much slower than the 4.7% growth during the first quarter.

Growth in the construction sector moderated to 5% from 6.4% the year before, while services expanded at a slower pace at 2.8% from 3.9%.

Sectors such as construction are under pressure owing to tighter government rules for foreign labour aimed at placating public anger over a surge in immigration, analysts said.

Monday’s GDP figures are based on two months of data and are used to gauge the economy’s performance ahead of the release of the final numbers.

The weakness in manufacturing industries, which contribute a fifth of Singapore’s economy, pose “downside risks to our 2014 GDP growth outlook,” United Overseas Bank said in a commentary. l